In a recent interview on "Mornings with Zerlina," former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledged that President Joe Biden, 81, is "old" but urged voters to re-elect him anyway to save democracy from former President Donald Trump. Clinton's candid remarks come amidst growing concerns about the president's age and mental fitness for office.
"Somebody the other day said to me: 'Well, but, you know, Joe Biden's old,'" Clinton, 76, recalled during the Super Tuesday interview. "I said, 'You know what, Joe Biden is old. Let's go ahead and accept the reality. Joe Biden is old.'"
Despite this admission, Clinton argued that the choice between Biden and Trump, 77, is clear. "So we have a contest between one candidate who's old, but who's done an effective job and doesn't threaten our democracy," she said of her fellow Democrat. "And we have another candidate who is old, barely makes sense when he talks, is dangerous, and threatens our democracy."
Clinton's call to "pick between your two old ones and figure out how you're going to save our democracy" comes as recent polls show a majority of Americans are concerned about both candidates' mental capabilities. A survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that roughly 6 in 10 Americans say they're not very or not at all confident in President Biden's mental capability to serve effectively as president. Nearly the same proportion expressed doubt about Trump's mental fitness.
The former secretary of state's comments notably sidestepped the issue of Biden's mental acuity, which came under scrutiny in a January Department of Justice report by Special Counsel Robert Hur. The report, which investigated Biden's mishandling of classified documents, described the president as "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man" with a "poor memory" and "diminished faculties."
Biden quickly dismissed the damning claims, asserting that his "memory is fine." However, a recent New York Times/Siena College poll found that 61% of voters who backed Biden in 2020 now believe he is too old to serve another term, with 73% of all registered voters sharing this sentiment. In contrast, only 42% of registered voters said the same about Trump.
While some Democrats, such as Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., have defended Biden's sharpness and job performance, Clinton remains one of the few high-profile party members to openly acknowledge the president's advanced age.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the debate over the candidates' ages and mental fitness is likely to intensify. Clinton's call for voters to prioritize protecting democracy and fundamental rights over concerns about Biden's age may resonate with some, but the polls suggest that many Americans remain skeptical of both frontrunners' abilities to lead the nation effectively.
With the stakes high and the country deeply divided, the outcome of the 2024 election will depend on voters' willingness to weigh the candidates' ages, mental acuity, and track records against the pressing issues facing the nation. As Clinton put it, "no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, you want to maintain freedom, and the rule of law, and protection for people's fundamental rights." The question remains: which candidate do voters believe is best equipped to uphold these values in the face of mounting challenges?
