Joe Biden has come under increasing scrutiny from Americans over his physical and mental health related to his advanced age. While the 80-year-old president has mounted a defense of his age and is attempting to frame his age as a positive, polls suggest the concerns are valid.
At a Labor Day rally in Philadelphia, Biden said, “Someone said, ‘You know, that Biden, he’s getting old.’” Well guess what, guess what … the only thing that comes with age is a little bit of wisdom.” Biden is attempting to assuage the public’s fears with confidence, insisting that his years of experience makes him capable of leading the country.
Polls from both the Associated Press/NORC and Harvard Caps/Harris demonstrate that the public is not convinced.
The AP/NORC poll found that an alarming 77 percent of Americans believe Biden is too old to govern effectively, a figure that undermines Biden’s insistence that he is capable and fit. The Harvard Caps/Harris poll further showed that 61 percent of respondents thought Vice President Kamala Harris would end up finishing Biden’s second term if he was reelected.
In a further attempt to quell these concerns, Biden has released the results of two physical examinations that found him fit for office. However, his efforts to alleviate growing fears appear to have had the opposite effect, as the polls demonstrate that Biden’s age continues to be a serious concern for Americans.
To make matters worse, Biden has refused to acknowledge what his age is, saying, “I can’t even say the number. It doesn’t register with me.” Considering the overwhelming number of people who are apprehensive of Biden’s age, this lack of transparency is only furthering the public’s doubts surrounding his capability to handle the office of the President.
Given the evidence, it is difficult to dispute that Americans are justified in being concerned about Joe Biden’s advanced age. With the public clearly uncertain of Biden’s capabilities, the president must take steps to convince Americans that his age will not be an obstacle. Otherwise, his age may become his greatest political liability.