1968 Redux? CBS News’ John Dickerson on Post-Debate Presidential Campaign Turmoil and Why Joe Biden is Not Having an LBJ Moment

variety.com:

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor If anyone is equipped to analyze the turmoil in the presidential race that was catalyzed by Thursday’s debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, it’s CBS News anchor John Dickerson.

Dickerson is network’s chief political analyst and anchor of “The Daily Report with John Dickerson” streaming broadcast. He’s written extensively about American presidents and the political dynamics of our age in his role as a contributor to the Atlantic and author of the 2020 book “The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency.” What’s more, Dickerson also co-hosts the Slate podcasts “Political Gabfest” and “Whistlestop.” Since the June 27 faceoff between the candidates, Dickerson has been working overtime trying to sort out the impact of Biden and Trump’s performances in the debate held unusually early in the campaign cycle.

Dickerson finds little precedent from the past to offer guidance on how the 2024 battle for the White House might play out. And that’s a sobering admission from someone who knows the terrain well. “This time around, I don’t know what parallel from history to hold on to,” Dickerson says. The election is still more than four months away but the CNN debate feels like a turning point in what has already been an unusual presidential cycle.

Are there past examples where debate performances proved pivotal for voters? There’s never been an environment like this before, but there have been big debate performances that have been a problem.