SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – On Thursday, Joe Biden and Donald Trump squared off in the first Presidential debate of the year and while Senator John Thune was at McCook Lake on Friday surveying damage from flooding, our team asked what his thoughts were regarding the debate.

Thune said he believes Donald Trump had a decisive victory, pointing to Joe Biden’s struggles.

“I don’t think that anybody can walk away from that debate with any level of confidence that Joe Biden can survive the presidency for another four years,” Sen. Thune said. “I thought Donald Trump handled himself well. He was very poised. I thought he was disciplined in his answers, had the right temperament and the right tone. I think that’s going to play well with people across the country as they look at these two candidates.”

Thune also theorized that the Democratic Party may step away from Biden as the election moves forward.