The difference was preparation. She was prepared, and he wasn’t. But you’re 100% correct: This situation can be fixed. The good thing is that the first debate almost never sticks in the minds of those who might be persuaded by debates. If you’re going to come up short in a presidential debate, do it on the first one. Don’t do it on the last one.
Bingo. We should also remember that Reagan lost his first debate with Mondale in ‘84. This is not a disaster. But yeah, he needs to step up his game for the next two.