President Biden is hitting television airwaves this week with a minute-long advertisement that immediately addresses one of his biggest political vulnerabilities: his age.
“Look, I’m not a young guy,” a smiling Biden, wearing a quarter-zip sweater over a white shirt, says straight to camera at the start of the 60-second spot. “That’s no secret. But here’s the deal: I understand how to get things done for the American people.”
He goes on to list accomplishments like steering the country from the Covid-19 pandemic, overseeing an economic recovery, lowering prescription drug prices and signing into law new infrastructure investments, all while seeking to draw a contrast with former President Trump, who is shown in the ad driving a golf cart.
“Donald Trump believes the job of the president is to take care of Donald Trump. I believe the job of the president is to fight for you, the American people. And that’s what I’m doing,” Biden says.
The overall tone of the ad is serious. But after the legally required sign-off — “I’m Joe Biden and I approve this message” — a voice asks: “Can we do one more take?”
Biden returns to the screen with a different take on his age: “Look, I’m very young, energetic and handsome. What in the hell am I doing this for?” he asks, to laughter.
It’s the first time Biden and his team have cut a commercial addressing the issue of his advanced years and signals a more aggressive approach to countering voter unease about the prospect of the 81-year-old Biden running for a second term.
The ad is the first in a $30 million battleground state campaign, and will air on national cable networks and local broadcast stations in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina, according to Biden’s campaign.
