Is "Sleepy Joe" too old for the White House?

Is "Sleepy Joe" too old for the White House?

As the incumbent US President, Joe Biden has the privilege of running for the White House again. However, his advanced age, verbal lapses and physical stumbles have led to mocking and derisive comments from the competition. The Democrats are looking for an alternative - could it beat Donald Trump?

He jokes about his old age. He ignores it. Or he presents it as proof of wisdom and experience. But voters are highly skeptical about the age of US President Joe Biden, who turns 81 on Monday and plans to run for re-election in a year's time. Many are wondering whether the Democrat has the energy for four more years in the White House. And many party supporters would like to see a fresher candidate enter the race.

As the incumbent, however, Biden has the clear prerogative to run again. It doesn't matter that he is already the oldest president in US history and would be 86 years old at the end of a possible second term.

For a long time now, Biden's verbal lapses have caused mocking and derisive comments from his political rivals. The former Vice President often appears tired and has problems formulating longer sentences freely. There have also been a number of stumbles, including when boarding the presidential plane Air Force One, where he now uses a lower entrance so that he has to walk fewer steps.

Mockery also from 77-year-old toupee-wearing Trump

A feast for the opposition Republicans, who deny that Biden is physically and mentally fit for perhaps the toughest job in the world. Former President Donald Trump now likes to show his supporters grotesque imitations of his successor in office, whom he wants to throw out of the White House on November 5, 2024.

Neither he nor his fans seem to care that the right-wing populist is no longer the youngest himself at the age of 77 and repeatedly makes linguistic blunders. According to a survey conducted in September, 74% of voters think Biden is too old for another term in office. The figure for Trump is only 50 percent.

Many also wonder how Biden will cope with the double burden of being president and presidential candidate. The Brookings think tank recently wrote that Biden would have to appear in public "at least five times a week" during the election campaign in order to convince voters of his robustness. No self-deprecating jokes about being "800 years old" - or looking 30 - will do.

Economic policy does not boost popularity

In addition to his advanced age, the economic situation is a problem for Biden: It is true that the USA is enjoying robust economic growth and low unemployment. However, the sharp rise in consumer prices is particularly troublesome for many citizens and is blamed on the President. Biden's economic policy, advertised by the White House as "Bidenomics", which includes massive investment in renewable energies, is not impressing voters.

And so Biden, who defeated Trump in the contested 2020 presidential election, is increasingly seen as a heavy burden by many Democrats. A recent poll caused a stir in the governing party, showing Biden behind Trump in five out of six particularly contested and potentially decisive states.

However, there is grumbling behind closed doors: the Democrats know that they are playing into the Republicans' hands if they openly question the candidacy of their elderly president. Especially as the question of alternatives arises. Vice President Kamala Harris, who started out with great expectations, has remained pale in the thankless office and has even lower popularity ratings than Biden. Should Biden, contrary to expectations, drop out of the presidential race before the 2024 election, Harris would still be his natural successor.

Secret search for alternative candidate

However, other names are also being mentioned - in particular that of California Governor Gavin Newsom. There is repeated talk of a "shadow election campaign" by the charismatic politician, with which Newsom wants to position himself as a possible Biden replacement. At the end of November, the 56-year-old would like to have a televised duel with Florida's arch-conservative governor Ron DeSantis, who is in second place behind Trump in the Republican candidate race.

Newsom insists that he only wants to help Biden in the election campaign and is not planning his own candidacy. But there is no doubt that the ambitious governor has fundamental ambitions for the White House, presumably with a view to 2028.

Meanwhile, Biden has to fight against many doubts. But the president and his entourage are relaxed. They point out that previous presidents such as Barack Obama also fared badly in the polls a year before an election and were still re-elected. Biden does not want to admit, at least not to the outside world, that his advanced age could be the decisive difference and disadvantage.

1. Despite the mockery from both Donald Trump and the Republicans, Joe Biden, as the incumbent US President, has announced his intention to run for the US presidential election 2024, despite being 81 years old and being the oldest president in US history.
2. The Democrats are weighing their options for an alternative candidate to Biden, given his advanced age and the potential disadvantage it could present against Donald Trump, who is also 77 years old.
3. California Governor Gavin Newsom is being mentioned as a potential alternative to Biden, with rumors of a "shadow election campaign" aimed at positioning himself as a possible replacement.

Source: www.ntv.de