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As conversations circulate around the 2024 presidential election, Democrats fear President Joe Biden’s odds of reelection. It’s no secret that the president’s disapproval ratings have increased amid inflation records and a looming recession. Along with that, his age is now a big factor.
By the time the presidential election comes around, Biden will be 81 years old. This is something Democrats can’t deny voters are thinking about.
“I think that Joe will run again, and his age will be a legitimate issue for many voters,” said Andrew Yang, a former Democratic candidate for president in 2020.
Some say his age should not be a factor, as he was already the oldest president to be sworn into office at 78, but rather that voters should look at what he has done while in office.
“Joe Biden’s only a couple of years older than when he won,” former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper said. “It’s not as if this is breaking news that two years after he won, he’s two years older than he was.”
“Presidents should be evaluated on performance, not on age,” said Brad Bannon, a Democratic strategist.
Whether they like it or not, voters are taking his age into consideration. Aside from his age, they are also looking at his performance and are unhappy. Yet as politics are getting more heated, voters are calling for action. Many question if Biden has the endurance to push through to the next election.
“A Harvard-Harris Poll survey out this month revealed that 62 percent of respondents said Biden is ‘showing he is too old to be president,’” according to the Hill.
This is not invalidating his years of experience in government and politics but questioning if it’s time to put those experiences to rest. The fact is, Biden is the oldest president to take office, and former President Donald Trump was the oldest to take office prior to Biden.
Along with the presidency, the Senate is on average the oldest it has been. Conversely, if GOP U.S. Senate nominee Katie Britt is elected in Alabama, she will be the youngest woman in the Senate at age 40. Her age is not what got her nominated, but it’s a factor that will provide longevity in her political career.
Similarly, the next presidential candidates will bring different issues to the table depending on their experience and age. So, will America want someone new and young for the 2024 presidential election? It seems age will be a component for voters when observing the next set of candidates.
There is value in someone older and wiser who holds a lot of experience they can pass down. Though there is a minimum age requirement to hold office, maybe there should also be a maximum age. If someone is unable to form sentences and communicate to the people, they cannot effectively lead. It might be time for a younger generation of leaders.
Esther Wickham is a summer 2022 Washington Examiner fellow.
