Biden wanted the debate to give his campaign a boost. But after his poor performance, new polling shows Trump ahead.

• President Biden wanted to use the debate to change the dynamics of the 2024 race.
• But his poor performance sent Democrats reeling and has opened him up to intraparty criticism.
• In the latest USA Today/Suffolk University poll, Trump boasted a 41%-38% advantage over Biden.

Weeks before the June presidential debate, the Biden campaign had sought to shake up the dynamics of the race, agreeing for the president to take the stage with former President Donald Trump.

Biden's team wanted the debate to crystallize what they've long argued: that the president was well-equipped to serve in a second term and would be the more effective leader on the world stage.