What’s happening: A majority of Democratic voters say they are concerned that President Joe Biden, 80, is too old to be running for reelection, according to a CNN poll released on Thursday.
Fifty-six percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said they were “seriously concerned” that Biden’s advanced age and adjacency to death might negatively affect his current level of physical and mental competence.
An even larger majority—60 percent of Democrats—said they were seriously concerned that Biden’s age could hurt his chances of winning the 2024 election.
Asked an open-ended question regarding their ”biggest concern” about Biden as a candidate, most Democrats cited his age, as well other age-related factors such as “mental competency,” “health,” “stamina,” “blunders,” ”ability to handle the job,” and “risk of dying.”
Why it matters: Democrats are terrified of Donald Trump, but have shown no interest in replacing Biden as the party’s nominee in 2024 despite widespread voter concern about his age and health, not to mention their lack of confidence in his chosen successor, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Biden’s support among key demographic groups—black and Hispanic voters—has been falling, the New York Timesreported earlier this week. Concerns about his age are likely a factor, but either way, that’s bad news for Democrats.
Democrats might be right to think that, despite his age and high likelihood of dying soon, Biden is the best candidate they have to offer. Who, exactly, is going to replace him? Harris? Pete Buttigieg? Gavin Newsom? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez? Good luck with that.
What they’re saying: “I think Biden’s age helps him,” wrote conservative journalist Michael Brendan Dougherty. “Better a comatose FDR Democrat than a living wokester who throws away Michigan and Pennsylvania.”
Crucial context: Biden will turn 81 in November. As of 2021, the average life expectancy for American men was 73.2 years. He is statistically unlikely to survive another four-year term as president.
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