Published on November 21, 2023, 11:29 pm

President Joe Biden marked his 81st birthday recently, igniting a debate within the Democratic camp concerning the role his age should play in his bid for re-election. There seems to be a thin line between acknowledging age as an experiential advantage and disregarding it entirely amidst concerns of perceived frailty.

Biden has had instances in public speeches where he mumbled and seemed disconcerted, stirring issues about his age among the populace. Recent polls indicate that Americans increasingly consider Biden’s age a significant factor in their political choices ahead of 2024.

According to Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), a member of the Biden campaign’s national advisory board, these conversations are not the focal point for voters. Instead, they’re interested in the candidate’s track record and potential future plans rather than incidental factors such as birthdays.

Some Democrats are advocating using Biden’s advanced age to underscore his wealth of wisdom and experience, even tossing around nicknames like “Grandpa Joe.” Conversely, there’s also reported feedback from donors worried about Biden’s age which was allegedly dismissed or overlooked by The Democratic National Committee. “The strategy is not to even address it,” claimed one anonymous donor.

Several individuals within Biden’s close-knit group voice similar apprehensions regarding ‘age optics’. They continue to hold faith in Biden’s mental capacity for office but admit occasional appearances of frailty can cause worry.

Meanwhile, Ron Klain, former Chief of Staff for President Biden stressed that questions about aging are inevitable and ought to be addressed accordingly with acts demonstrating vigor and robust energy levels from the president himself.

Strategies have been proposed within the campaign attempting to ease concerns related to Biden’s aging process. Suggestions include shorter walks during on-camera appearances and swapping formal shoes with more comfortable ones to enhance stride flexibility and minimize risk of falls.

Despite these doubts surrounding his age, President Biden continues to display sturdy tenacity, even while managing minor incidents like a fall during a bike ride near his Delaware beach home, while attempting to engage with reporters in June 2022. In the glacial slow churn of politics and the fast-paced world of real news, charting Biden’s run for re-election from a Christian worldview remains an attestation of resilience and the determination that accompanies age.