Clyburn acknowledges Democrats ‘cannot pretend’ Biden’s age won’t be factor in 2024
Cami Mondeaux
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Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) responded to the news of President Joe Biden’s reelection announcement, acknowledging that Democrats cannot ignore the president’s age as they push for his second term.
“First of all, I think the president is going to have to deal with the issue of age,” Clyburn, who is 82 years old, told MSNBC. “I do believe he is up to the task, and that is something we just cannot pretend is not on people’s minds. I think he has to show the energy that he’s been showing over the past several months.”
BIDEN LAUNCHES 2024 PRESIDENTIAL REELECTION BID
Biden announced his reelection campaign on Tuesday morning, releasing a three-minute video that called on voters to “finish the job” and continue standing up for “fundamental freedoms.” Biden’s reelection campaign sets the stage for what could become a rematch between him and former President Donald Trump, who leads in polling for the GOP nomination.
Although Biden has a slew of legislative accomplishments he can lean on during his campaign, such as the passage of his landmark infrastructure bill or the Inflation Reduction Act, the president must also grapple with criticism about his age and mental fitness. At 80 years old, Biden is the oldest president in U.S. history, and he frequently comes under scrutiny for making verbal gaffes during speeches.
The president must also deal with low popularity within his own party as recent polling shows a majority of Democrats would prefer an alternative candidate in 2024. However, those same voters say they would ultimately back him if he’s the nominee.
Republicans were quick to pounce on Biden’s announcement, with the Republican National Committee releasing an attack ad less than one hour after the president’s video aired using footage generated by artificial intelligence to show a world of chaos under Biden’s continued leadership.
“Biden is so out-of-touch that after creating crisis after crisis, he thinks he deserves another four years,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. “If voters let Biden ‘finish the job,’ inflation will continue to skyrocket, crime rates will rise, more fentanyl will cross our open borders, children will continue to be left behind, and American families will be worse off.”
Other Republicans welcomed the idea of a Trump versus Biden rematch as some GOP leaders used Biden’s announcement to campaign for the former president.
“Our country will not support another four years or Joe Biden’s disastrous policies crushing hardworking American families,” House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said in a statement. “Now more than ever, our country needs Donald J. Trump, and I will do everything in my power to help elect him in 2024 as President of the United States to save America.”
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Meanwhile, several Democrats have expressed confidence in Biden’s chances should he face Trump again, pointing to the former president’s looming investigations and criminal charges as topics that will weigh him down.
“Trump’s obviously an extremely dangerous person who would be very dangerous for the country. But I’m confident that President Biden could beat him,” Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) told Politico. “Politically, for us, it’s helpful if former President Trump is front and center. Broadly … the public rejects him.”