Just before the first debate between the oldest major-party presidential candidates in history, a TV ad took aim at President Joe Biden, questioning if his response to inflation was due to “dishonesty or dementia.” This provocative ad set the stage for a debate where age became a central issue, despite some believing it shouldn’t be.
At an assisted living facility near Washington, 81-year-old Barbara Goldberg reacted with dismay. The ad and subsequent debate underscored concerns about Biden’s age, especially when he seemed to lose his train of thought and made baffling statements like “We finally beat Medicare.” Such moments were unsettling for viewers like Goldberg, who hoped the debate would reassure them about Biden’s capabilities.
Biden’s allies saw this debate as a critical opportunity to address voter concerns about his age. Older voters, a crucial demographic, showed up in high numbers during the last election, and Biden’s team aimed to win them over. Unfortunately, Thursday night’s performance did little to ease their worries. Meg Maguire, 81, noted that Biden struggled to connect with the camera, contrasting sharply with Trump’s more confident, if not controversial, demeanor.
Goldberg expressed her disappointment, acknowledging Biden’s gaffes but also criticizing Trump’s erratic behavior. Trump, at 78, had his own share of recent blunders, yet his age was less of an issue during the debate. While Trump’s lies drew criticism, his age did not dominate the discussion as it did for Biden. A recent Gallup poll highlighted this disparity, showing two-thirds of Americans believe Biden is too old to be president, compared to 37 percent for Trump.
By the debate’s first commercial break, Biden’s damage was evident. Claire Moses, 83, bluntly assessed that Biden’s performance skills were lacking. Despite her belief in his accomplishments as president, she lamented his inability to convey that effectively during the debate. The moderators’ questions about handling the presidency at their ages led to a trivial exchange about golf, further diminishing the gravitas of the discussion. Maguire’s dismay was palpable as she reflected on the debate’s implications for the future, highlighting the generational concerns about leadership and the legacy being left behind.
