Dems Struggle to Shift Focus from Biden's Age, Highlight Accomplishments: Column

A new column published in Politico highlights the challenges Democrats face in shifting voters' attention away from President Biden's age and towards his accomplishments. According to Democratic consultants, concerns about Biden's age dominate discussions about him.

The article notes that if re-elected, Biden would be 82 years old at the start of his term, presenting a significant challenge for his campaign. Democrats close to the president reveal that he has conducted little polling on how to address concerns about his age and is unwilling to consider hearing aids.

Recent voter focus groups conducted in Michigan, Nevada, and North Carolina have consistently revealed that voters associate Biden with terms such as 'old,' 'slowing down,' or even 'dementia or feeble.' These concerns overshadow any recall of his achievements.

Democratic lawmakers acknowledged the need for Biden to confront these concerns head-on. Senator Jon Tester stressed the importance of addressing the issue publicly, while Senator Jeanne Shaheen emphasized the need to confront it directly.

Some Democrats even suggest that a competitive primary challenge could help Biden display his competence and reassure voters. Representative Hillary Scholten expressed concern that ignoring the concerns about Biden's age could make the party look out of touch and afraid.

The White House has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.

It remains to be seen how the Democratic Party will navigate this issue as Biden's age continues to be a focal point for voters.