Title: Concerns About President Biden’s Age Threaten Re-Election Bid, Poll Shows
A recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College reveals that widespread concerns about President Biden’s age are posing a deepening threat to his re-election bid. The survey indicates that a majority of voters who supported him in 2020 now believe he is too old to effectively lead the country.
According to the poll, 61 percent of voters who backed Mr. Biden in the last election now think he is “just too old” to be an effective president. Additionally, 19 percent of his 2020 supporters and 13 percent of those who planned to vote for him in November expressed doubts about his ability to handle the job due to his age.
The concerns about Mr. Biden’s age cut across various demographics, including generations, gender, race, and education levels. The poll also highlighted a shift in voters’ perceptions of the president, with 73 percent of all registered voters believing he is too old to be effective, and 45 percent expressing doubt about his capability to do the job.
The poll results come at a crucial time as Mr. Biden moves closer to securing his party’s nomination. The scrutiny of his age intensified in early February when a special counsel described him as an “elderly man with a poor memory” and “diminished faculties in advancing age.”
While Mr. Biden and his allies have dismissed concerns about his age and mental acuity as unfair, the poll suggests that worries about his age are becoming more pervasive and intertwined with how voters view him. Despite efforts to reassure voters, some, like Otto Abad from Scott, La., are considering switching their support to Mr. Trump due to concerns about Mr. Biden’s age.
The poll also compared perceptions of Mr. Biden’s age with those of Mr. Trump, who is just four years younger. While some voters expressed reservations about Mr. Trump’s age, the level of concern was significantly lower compared to Mr. Biden.
As the election approaches, voters are grappling with the implications of the candidates’ ages on their ability to serve as president. The poll reflects a growing unease among voters about Mr. Biden’s age and raises questions about his viability for a second term in office.
