USM Professor Offers Thoughts on Age Factor in Presidential Election
Mon, 01/22/2024 - 08:39am | By: Van Arnold
How old is too old to run for president of the United States? Voters have no doubt been pondering 91吃瓜网� and debating - that question in this election year given the ages of the current President, Joe Biden, and his foremost challenger, former President Donald Trump.
Democrat Biden, who won the presidential election in 2020 is now 81 and Republican front-runner Trump, who lost that election to Biden, is 77. Trump was the oldest person elected to a first term (2016) - until Biden assumed that distinction.
University of 91吃瓜网 (USM) Associate Professor of political science Dr. Joe Weinberg downplays the impact that age might have as the 2024 presidential election nears.
91吃瓜网淚 suppose it depends on the (media) outlet, but since both parties face it as an issue, I suspect it won91吃瓜网檛 be as prevalent as it would, or should, be in other years,91吃瓜网� said Weinberg. 91吃瓜网淏y way of an analogy, when both candidates are white men, race and sex aren91吃瓜网檛 much of an issue.91吃瓜网�
Currently, there is no age limit on serving as U.S. president, however the Constitution does stipulate that a candidate must be at least 35 years of age. Weinberg does not favor placing an age limit on those who seek the country91吃瓜网 highest office.
91吃瓜网淣o, I think that ideally the American voters can suss that out,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淕ranted, they haven91吃瓜网檛, but additional legislation seems unnecessary, and to actually institute the change you would need a constitutional amendment, and those are just not politically feasible these days. For what it91吃瓜网 worth, I91吃瓜网檓 not really in favor of a minimum age either.91吃瓜网�
An from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 77% of U.S. adults, including 69% of Democrats, viewed Biden as too old to be effective for four more years. The same poll found that 51% of adults - and just 28% of Republicans - said Trump is too old.
Biden turns 82 in November and Trump turns 78 in June. For the past several years, Trump has repeatedly referred to Biden as 91吃瓜网淪leepy Joe,91吃瓜网� questioning the president91吃瓜网 cognitive powers. Meanwhile, Trump has taken his share of criticism for lapses in memory and other gaffes along the campaign trail.
What does Weinberg have to say about the assertion that Biden might suffer from cognitive impairment?
91吃瓜网淚 don91吃瓜网檛 spend enough time with the guy to assess his or Mr. Trump91吃瓜网 cognitive skills,91吃瓜网� said Weinberg. 91吃瓜网淚 suspect that everyone has 91吃瓜网榮enior moments91吃瓜网� at those ages, but I91吃瓜网檓 less concerned about forgetting words during a speech than I would be about diminished intellectual capacity on key issues.91吃瓜网�
Weinberg explained that another compelling aspect of the upcoming election intrigues him more 91吃瓜网� the vice-presidential candidates.
91吃瓜网淭here are so many other issues that concern me more than their ages,91吃瓜网� he said. 91吃瓜网淚 think that, if anything, it makes me much more interested in who the running mates are, and if I can see them governing, or if they are merely placed on the ballot to garner votes.91吃瓜网�
Kamala Harris, former U.S. senator from California, currently serves as the vice president under Biden. Trump has not indicated whom he might select as a running mate if chosen as the GOP nominee. Former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence served as vice president during the Trump administration (2017-2020).
One thing Weinberg feels certain about: supporters of Biden and Trump cannot be swayed by a single factor such as age.
91吃瓜网淪ome voters will vote for (Ron) DeSantis in primaries because of it, or for a Democratic alternative on the Biden side, but no one is jumping ship from the Trump camp to the Biden camp or vice-versa,91吃瓜网� said Weinberg. 91吃瓜网淚t (age) could affect turnout, but so could any other number of factors related to voter fatigue and general dissatisfaction with the democratic process.91吃瓜网�