On Sunday, in response to an editorial in the New York Times that raised questions about President Joe Biden’s age, two Democrats in the Senate came to his defense.
Dick Durbin, the democrat senator from Illinois, was questioned by “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd if President Joe Biden should do more to reassure Americans that he is up to the position as the 2024 election approaches.
Durbin defended Biden by saying his schedule indicates an active person, mentally and physically. He said he engages with the American people regularly.
Todd brought up the subject after sharing an excerpt from a New York Times editorial regarding Biden’s advanced age, published on Saturday.
At 80, Biden is the oldest to hold the president’s office; with a second term, he would be 86.
It’s been noted that Biden has acknowledged the issues regarding his age in a February interview with ABC News, saying that fears, in terms of being fit for office and being in touch and the moment, “are legitimate.”
The editorial states that his go-to line when asked about his fitness for office is to say, “’Watch me.'”
However, the editorial notes that it is probably not a good idea to “watch him” because he spends most of his time hiding. It states that Biden has given the public few opportunities to watch him. He frequently turns his back and shuffles away from people when questions are being asked that cannot be controlled by his handlers.
The editorial states that his lack of engagement with the people raises doubts about his health and age.
Durbin again defended Biden by saying that he is confident in Biden’s continued presidential competence because of personal experience.
After dropping out of the 2020 presidential race, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) endorsed Biden and was subsequently asked similar questions regarding Biden’s fitness for office during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Klobuchar said Biden has “such a strong record to run on!”
Klobuchar used parts of Biden’s record to support her claim that the incumbent provides Americans with a “steady hand” in the White House, unlike Trump, who is also seeking reelection.
“People don’t want that chaos back again,” Klobuchar said.
Don’t be too sure.
