President Biden’s age has become a major obstacle to his campaign in recent weeks
With President Biden stepping down from the 2024 race, former President Trump now holds the distinction of being the oldest nominee in U.S. history. This development has prompted Democrats to shift their focus, using Trump’s age as a new line of attack against the Republican front-runner.
“This will probably boil down to Donald Trump, who is the oldest nominee in history, against Kamala Harris,” remarked Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., in response to Biden’s announcement. Frost’s comments, reported by The Associated Press, reflect the broader Democratic strategy to leverage the age issue in the upcoming election.
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Biden’s decision to exit the race was announced Sunday via social media, citing “the best interest of my party and the country.” This decision followed increasing concerns over Biden’s age and mental acuity, which were exacerbated by his poor performance in a recent debate. At 82 years old by inauguration day, Biden faced mounting pressure to step aside, leading to his withdrawal.
Trump, now 78, surpasses the previous age record for a presidential nominee, providing Democrats with a fresh angle for their campaign. “Donald Trump is too old to be President,” stated Democratic Ohio State Rep. Casey Weinstein on X in reaction to the news.
Former South Carolina state Rep. Bakari Sellers, a Democrat, echoed these sentiments on CNN, questioning Trump’s ability to serve another term given his age. “The man is nearly 80 years old, and so the question is, can he serve another four years? I’m not sure he can,” Sellers said.
Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Biden endorsed as the Democratic nominee, is expected to emphasize Trump’s age as a campaign issue. According to a report from the Telegraph, Harris’ deputy chief of staff indicated that the vice president plans to make age and fitness a key liability for Trump if she becomes the nominee.
Erin Wilson, a veteran of the West Wing, hinted at this strategy during a call with the group “Win With Black Woman,” suggesting that Harris’ background as a prosecutor offers a stark contrast to Trump. “Her role as a prosecutor makes her the ultimate contrast to Trump, the convicted felon,” Wilson reportedly said.
Harris’ campaign spokesperson, James Singer, reinforced this approach in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The American people are rightly concerned that the Republican Party has nominated Donald Trump, a 78-year-old convicted criminal,” Singer said.
He added that Trump “has spent decades screwing over working people and now wants to destroy our democracy, ban abortion, and only cares about himself.”
As the 2024 race heats up, age and fitness for office are poised to become central themes, with Democrats aiming to turn Trump’s record-breaking age into a significant campaign issue.