Over 23 million people watched Biden’s live press conference in connection with the NATO meeting last Thursday. It is, apart from sporting events, one of the most watched television broadcasts of the year in the United States. Those who streamed the press conference on the internet are also not included in the viewership figure.
The fact that so many people saw the press conference probably has nothing to do with a sudden, unexpectedly great interest in NATO issues. Instead, viewers wanted to see how Biden would fare, after recent weeks of criticism that he is unsuited to lead the Democrats to victory in the fall presidential election.
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– Those who like Biden watched and crossed their fingers that he would show his old self. Those who don’t like him watched to be able to take advantage of the fact that a person they don’t like is setting a hook for himself, says Andreas Utterström.
“The election is about people and drama”
For nearly an hour, viewers were treated to Biden answering questions from reporters, many of which revolved around his health. They also got to witness how Biden accidentally called his vice president Kamala Harris “Trump”.
In connection with the NATO meeting, he also introduced Ukrainian President Zelensky as “President Putin”. Two mistakes that received massive media coverage and only fueled the fiery debate that has raged recently.
Right now, almost all coverage of the presidential election revolves around Biden’s health, and very little about substantive politics, says Andreas Utterström. This is usually how it is in American election campaigns, and Utterström describes that they usually contain both entertainment and seriousness.
– Trump gave the entertainment part a turbo engine when he was president and even now afterwards, with the indictments. It’s more about people and drama and very little about matters of fact. That will be the case until November 5, he says.
But still, so many people chose to spend the evening watching a press conference with a politician. Could all the fuss about the election ultimately increase voter turnout?
– No I do not think so. If Biden does not step down, the choice is between two candidates many people do not like, it means that voter turnout rather drops. It will be a choice between Biden, Trump and the sofa cover – who will get their voters to go and vote?