“His energy level, while impressive for a man of his age, is not what it was, and some aides quietly watch out for him. He often shuffles when he walks, and aides worry he will trip on a wire. He stumbles over words during public events, and they hold their breath to see if he makes it to the end without a gaffe.”
3) Asked for a reason for why they would prefer someone other than Biden, 33% of Democratic primary voters cited his age, while 32% said his job performance. Among Biden’s rough age cohort — those 65 and over — 60% said age was the main reason they wanted Democrats to nominate someone other than the President.
Those are striking numbers that speak to the fact that this isn’t just a summer story being driven by the media. It’s a legitimate concern for voters — even those who are favorably inclined to the party to which Biden belongs.
Let’s consider some facts.
* Joe Biden is 79 years old. He was the oldest person ever elected president — by five years — when he won the White House in 2020 at age 77. (He turned 78 less than a month after the election.)
* If/when he runs for reelection in 2024, he will be 81 years old on Election Day — and will turn 82 shortly after. (Biden’s birthday is November 20, 1942.)
Biden himself, during the course of the 2020 campaign, acknowledged that voters should consider his age as they made up their minds about their vote.
The question of how big of an issue Biden’s age will wind up being for voters if he runs in 2024 remains to be seen — and could be dependent on whether Republicans nominate someone who can drive that contrast with Biden or not.
“President Biden is one of the oldest 79s in History but, by and of itself, he is not an old man,” Trump wrote. “There are many people in their 80s, and even 90s that are as good and sharp as ever. Biden is not one of them, but it has little to do with his age. In actuality, life begins at 80!”
