Debate-watchers in the Biden and Trump camps seem to agree on something: Biden had a bad night

WASHINGTON (AP) — “Oh, Joe."

That gasp, from patrons at a Chicago bar when President Joe Biden first stumbled verbally in his debate with Donald Trump, spoke for a lot of Americans on Thursday night.

In watch parties, bars, a bowling alley and other venues where people across the country gathered to tune in, Trump supporters, happily, and Biden supporters, in their angst if not dread, seemed to largely agree they had witnessed a lopsided showdown.

By the end of the 90-plus minutes, some Democrats were saying what partisans say to put the best face on things: It's still early. One debate doesn't necessarily sway the nation. Judge him by what he's done and wants to do, not by how he says things.

But many were let down.

Biden “just didn’t have the spark that we needed tonight,” Rosemarie DeAngelus, a Democrat from South Portland, Maine, said from her watch party at Broadway Bowl. Trump, she said, showed “more spunk or more vigor” even if, in her view, he was telling a pack of lies.

Fellow Biden supporter and bowling alley attendee Lynn Miller, from nearby Old Orchard Beach, said: "It’s like somebody gave Trump an Adderall and I don’t think they gave Joe one." (The drug is used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.)

“I’ve never seen Trump seem so coherent,” Miller said. “And I hate to say this, but Joe seemed a little bit off. But I still support him over Trump because Trump lied about every single thing that happened.”

Trump supporters certainly agreed that the difference in energy and coherence between the candidates was striking. Wearing her red MAGA hat at a festive pro-Trump party in the Detroit suburb of Novi, Bonnie Call said of Biden: “He just cannot think on his feet at all. President Trump is just on."

In McAllen, Texas, near the Mexico border, London’s Bar & Grill is normally loud on a day close to the weekend, but many patrons were quiet as they absorbed the debate from TV screens. Here, Biden supporters, Trump supporters and undecided voters mingled.

Among them, Vance Gonzales, 40, a moderate Democrat, said the debate convinced him that “we need another Democratic candidate, to be honest, because this is not competitive.” He said of Biden: “He’s not on point with anything. I think it’s disappointing.”

Marco Perez, 53, voted for Biden in the last election and voiced frustration with what he was hearing and seeing. “I want to hear more facts, more action as opposed to more finger-pointing, more accusations or false accusations,” he said.

His friend Virginia Lopez, sitting with him, came away still not knowing whom she will support in November. She heard snappy but unsatisfying answers from the Republican. “Trump is just deflecting in all the answers and he’s just lying," she said. "It doesn’t feel like a real debate."

Biden? "I just feel like he’s too old," she said.

Sitting up at the bar, Hector Mercado, 72, a veteran wearing a U.S. military beret, was a distinctive patron as he listened intently to the debate. Although he was a Democrat for several years, he switched parties under Ronald Reagan, a Republican.

Mercado heard Biden accuse Trump of making derogatory comments about veterans, but it didn’t sway his support for Trump. “Yeah, he said a few things bad about veterans at one point back in the early days," he said of Trump. “But now he’s saying, ‘No, I back up the veterans and I never had any problems with him. I got a raise in my VA disability when Trump was president.”

Biden's performance left him cold. "I think Trump is stronger,” he said, “and Biden is a little weak.”

In a Tijuana migrant shelter over the border in Mexico, people mainly from southern Mexico who are hoping to apply for asylum in the U.S. watched the debate in folding chairs in front of a screen on the wall.

The migrants, most of whom have been waiting for months for their appointments in that process, stared blankly at the screen as a Spanish-translated version of the debate played on. They watched an American democratic ritual in motion.

Andrea, who did not give her last name due to threats of violence back home, has lived at the shelter for nine months. Her debate takeaway: “Well, I feel that the people of the United States don’t love Mexicans now."

At Hula Hula, a tiki bar in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, patrons cheered wildly as their city got a mention from Trump — even if it came up when the Republican was complaining about lawlessness. Biden supporter Amy Pottinger of Seattle said the Democratic president did best when Trump made him angry.

“Once he started talking about Roe v. Wade, it was like Biden woke up and was here,” she said.

At the same Chicago bar where patrons exclaimed about Biden's stumbles — the M Lounge in the South Loop — the president scored with this zinger to Trump: “You have the morals of an alley cat.”

“Whoa!” the viewers there said.

But at a Democratic watch party in downtown Atlanta, it was a night of jitters.

“I’m so nervous, I feel like my kid is going onstage,” Georgia state Sen. Nikki Merritt said early on, patting her stomach as if she had butterflies.

Technicians struggled with sound and video. During one outage, the crowd chanted “Let’s Go Joe!”

“I want to hear Joe Biden talking to the voters and ignoring the crazy man in the room,” said Matthew Wilson, the Georgia Democratic Party’s vice chairman.

But there was no ignoring the man they called crazy.

Associated Press journalists Charlie Arbogast in Chicago; Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas; Gregory Bull in Tijuana, Mexico; Mike Householder in Detroit; Robert Bukaty in South Portland, Maine; Mike Pesoli in Washington, D.C.; and Lindsey Wasson in Seattle contributed to this report.

CORRECTS NAME TO ANDREA - Andrea, a migrant from southern Mexico, poses as others watch the presidential debate in a shelter for migrants waiting to apply for asylum, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Tijuana, Mexico, as President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, Donald Trump, met for the first general election debate of the 2024 season. "I feel that the people of the U.S. don't love Mexicans, now. That's why maybe it’s among those in the debate and everything, so that they close the border and no more people enter. Because yes, there are too many people who are entering, but they are entering due to strong problems that we have here in Mexico. I know that we are going to fight because we have many children, to move towards a better future, and to give it our all." (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Amy Pottinger, wearing a Biden/Harris sweatshirt, claps as President Joe Biden comments on how Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump handled January 6th as people watch the presidential debate at Hula Hula, a tiki themed bar, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Veteran Hector Mercado, 72, watches the presidential debate in a crowded McAllen, Texas bar Thursday, June 27, 2024. Although he was a Democrat for several years, he switched parties under Reagan. Mercado heard the allegations Biden raised about Trump's derogatory comments about veterans, but it didn't sway his support. "Yea, he said a few things bad about about veterans at one point back in the early days. But now he's saying, no, I back up the veterans and I never had any problems with him. I got a raise in my VA disability when Trump was president," Mercado said, standing by his choice. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)

Marco Perez, 53, sits with Virginia López, 51, at a McAllen, Texas bar Thursday June 27, 2024. López is unsure which way she's voting. "Unfortunately I feel that this is the first time where I don't even know who I want to vote for," Virginia Lopez said. "I really feel that one of them, the Republican, I'm disappointed with what he's done, with his behavior. And the other one, I just feel like he's too old." (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)

Lynn Miller shouts at the TV after a comment by Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during the presidential debate with President Joe Biden, during a watch party at Broadway Bowl, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in South Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Movie patrons watch the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Brewvies Cinema Pub on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Tanzella Young, left, Crystal Blakley, center, and Jason Sanford watch the Presidential Debate at the M Lounge in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

A phone perched on a car plays a simultaneous translation into Spanish as the first general election debate of the 2024 season between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, is projected on a giant outdoor screen at the Nite Owl drive-in theater, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Miami. The viewing party at Miami's Nite Owl drive-in theater was organized by the Biden-Harris campaign and the Florida Democratic Party. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Karen Sellinger, left, and her partner, Bonnie Weissberg, of South Portland, Maine, reacts to a comment by Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump during the presidential debate with President Joe Biden, during a watch party at Broadway Bowl, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in South Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Trump supporters react during the Young Republicans' Presidential debate watch party on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in New York as President Joe Biden faces former President Donald Trump during the first Presidential debate ahead of the 2024 elections. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Trump supporter, Lucas Federico, 21 years old, from New York, center, watches the debate during the Young Republicans' Presidential debate watch party on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in New York as President Joe Biden faces former President Donald Trump during the first Presidential debate ahead of the 2024 elections. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Reproductive rights advocate Kat Duesterhaus holds up a sign as U.S. President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump speak about abortion access, as the the first general election debate of the 2024 season is projected on a outdoor screen at the Nite Owl drive-in theater, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Trump supporters react during the Young Republicans' Presidential debate watch party on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in New York as President Joe Biden faces former President Donald Trump during the first Presidential debate ahead of the 2024 elections. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Darryl Banks, center, reacts while watching the first general election debate of the 2024 season, between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a watch party organized by the Miami Freedom Project at the Center for Black Innovation in Overtown, Miami, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

People react as they watch the debate between President Joe Biden and his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, at a watch party organized by the Miami Freedom Project at the Center for Black Innovation in Overtown, Miami, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

A patron, who wished to remain unnamed, puts their head in their hands as people watch a presidential debate at Hula Hula, a tiki themed karaoke bar, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Trump supporters listen during the Young Republicans' presidential debate watch party on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in New York as President Joe Biden faces former President Donald Trump during the first presidential debate ahead of the 2024 elections. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Roger Strassburg, of Scottsdale, Ariz., wears a cowboy hat as he watches the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a debate watch party Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Sara Day, a supporter of President Joe Biden, watches coverage of the debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump, at Brewvies Cinema Pub on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Liquor bottles are placed on a back bar at the Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood, Calif., Thursday, June 27, 2024, as a presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, is broadcast. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A patron puts their hand to their face as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks about how he would handle the Israel-Hamas war as people watch the presidential debate at Hula Hula, a tiki themed karaoke bar, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Lori Lahrmann left, and Tonya Morris, second from left, both from Cincinnati, watch the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at Tillie's Lounge on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Cincinnati. Both plan to vote for President Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

PARIS (AP) — Voters across mainland France began casting ballots Sunday in the first round of exceptional parliamentary election that could put France’s government in the hands of nationalist, far-right parties for the first time since the Nazi era.

The outcome of the two-round election, which will wrap up July 7, could impact European financial markets, Western support for Ukraine and how France’s nuclear arsenal and global military force are managed.

Many French voters are frustrated about inflation and economic concerns, as well as President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership, which they see as arrogant and out-of-touch with their lives. Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration National Rally party has tapped and fueled that discontent, notably via online platforms like TikTok, and dominated all preelection opinion polls.

A new coalition on the left, the New Popular Front, is also posing a challenge to the pro-business Macron and his centrist alliance Together for the Republic.

There are 49.5 million registered voters who will choose 577 members of the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, during the two-round voting.

After a blitz campaign marred by rising hate speech, voting began early in France’s overseas territories, and polling stations opened in mainland France at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) Sunday. The first polling projections are expected at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), when the final polling stations close, and early official results are expected later Sunday night.

In the restive French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, polls already closed at 5 p.m. local time due to an 8 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew that authorities on the archipelago have extended until July 8.

Nine people died during a two-week-long unrest in New Caledonia, where the Indigenous Kanak people have long sought to break free from France, which first took the Pacific territory in 1853. Violence flared on May 13 in response to attempts by Macron’s government to amend the French Constitution and change voting lists in New Caledonia, which Kanaks feared would further marginalize them.

Voters in France’s other overseas territories from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, French Polynesia and those voting in offices opened by embassies and consular posts across the Americas cast their ballots on Saturday.

Macron called the early election after his party was trounced in the European Parliament election earlier in June by the National Rally, which has historic ties to racism and antisemitism and is hostile toward France’s Muslim community. It was an audacious gamble that French voters who were complacent about the European Union election would be jolted into turning out for moderate forces in a national election to keep the far right out of power.

Instead, preelection polls suggest that the National Rally is gaining support and has a chance at winning a parliamentary majority. In that scenario, Macron would be expected to name 28-year-old National Rally President Jordan Bardella as prime minister in an awkward power-sharing system known as "cohabitation."

While Macron has said he won’t step down before his presidential term expires in 2027, cohabitation would weaken him at home and on the world stage.

The results of the first round will give a picture of overall voter sentiment, but not necessarily of the overall makeup of the next National Assembly. Predictions are extremely difficult because of the complicated voting system, and because parties will work between the two rounds to make alliances in some constituencies or pull out of others.

In the past such tactical maneuvers helped keep far-right candidates from power. But now support for Le Pen's party has spread deep and wide.

Bardella, who has no governing experience, says he would use the powers of prime minister to stop Macron from continuing to supply long-range weapons to Ukraine for the war with Russia. His party has historical ties to Russia.

The party has also questioned the right to citizenship for people born in France, and wants to curtail the rights of French citizens with dual nationality. Critics say this undermines fundamental human rights and is a threat to France's democratic ideals.

Meanwhile, huge public spending promises by the National Rally and especially the left-wing coalition have shaken markets and ignited worries about France's heavy debt, already criticized by EU watchdogs.

Follow AP's coverage of elections at https://apnews.com/hub/global-elections

A woman walks past campaign boards for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Paris, Thursday June 27, 2024. Voters will choose lawmakers for the National Assembly in two rounds on June 30 and July 7. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

People gather on the Republique Plaza during a rally in Paris, Thursday June 27, 2024. Anti-racism groups joined French unions and left-wing coalition in protests against the surging nationalist far right as French President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections following the defeat of his centrist alliance at European Union elections earlier this month. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

FILE - Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Front party, arrives at the Eurosatory Defense and security exhibition, Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in Villepinte, north of Paris. The perspective of a defeat in parliamentary elections mean he may have to share power with a prime minister from rival political party — that could possibly be far-right National Rally's president Jordan Bardella. Macron defeated twice the National Rally's leader Marine Le Pen in the presidential election, both in 2017 and 2022.( AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron, right, meets French far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally) leader Marine Le Pen at the Elysee Palace on June 21, 2022 in Paris. The perspective of a defeat in parliamentary elections mean he may have to share power with a prime minister from rival political party — that could possibly be far-right National Rally's president Jordan Bardella. Macron defeated twice the National Rally's leader Marine Le Pen in the presidential election, both in 2017 and 2022. (Ludovic Marin/Pool photo via AP, File)