Biden’s Age and the GOP’s Opportunity: A Deeper Analysis
President Joe Biden aimed to quell voter concerns about his age during his passionate State of the Union address last week. He not only delivered a forceful performance but also used self-deprecating humor to counteract the narrative put forth by some conservatives that an 81-year-old president might struggle to complete a prime-time speech (Brown, P.T., 2023). However, the recent investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents by former special counsel Robert Hur gave Republicans another chance to probe into concerns about the president’s memory and ability to serve another term.
Tuesday’s Congressional appearance of former special counsel Robert Hur provided Republicans with an opportunity to scrutinize Biden’s memory and raise questions about his capacity for the presidency. Yet, if Republicans anticipated that Hur’s testimony would significantly boost their political agenda, they were mistaken. The hearing did not disclose much new information beyond what was already reported (Hur Report, 2023).
As the political landscape shifts towards Election Day, Republicans will need to determine how – and if – they can use Biden’s age as part of a broader argument against another term. The damage was arguably done before the hearing, with Hur concluding that Biden had intentionally retained classified information but would not face charges and describing him as a “sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory” (Hur Report, 2023).
Despite Hur’s understated performance at the GOP-controlled House Judiciary Committee, Republicans seized the opportunity to question Biden’s misstatements during a February press conference following the release of Hur’s report. The hearing coincided with the publication of the transcript, which revealed Biden’s difficulty remembering specific details and struggling to recall certain facts (White House Transcript, 2023).
Biden has attempted to downplay concerns about his age by humorously acknowledging his limitations and comparing himself favorably with former President Donald Trump. Democrats also emphasized the contrast between Biden’s behavior and that of his predecessor. The transcript offered additional context behind the initial image presented in Hur’s report, including instances where Biden required a slight refresher on certain details (White House Transcript, 2023).
The Biden campaign viewed Tuesday’s hearing positively, with a campaign official stating that much of the Democratic-led questioning focused on the differences between Biden and Trump’s handling of classified material. The team is optimistic about the president’s electoral prospects as his opponent takes a more prominent role in public discourse (News Finder, 2023).
To fully capitalize on Biden’s age as an issue, Republicans must go beyond simply highlighting his advanced years. Instead, they should focus on policy failures and present proactive policy proposals to underscore their critique of the president’s competency. For example, Biden’s push for $2.2 trillion in social programs amid rising inflation and his apparent disregard for military advisers during the Afghanistan withdrawal should be central themes in their campaign messaging.
Hur’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee did not deliver any major surprises and left Republicans with a clear picture of a president who struggles with recalling specific details. However, for the Trump campaign to make significant headway against Biden on this issue, it must offer a compelling case against the incumbent’s substance as well as his style. Ignoring this requirement may leave the campaign questioning why the race against an allegedly senile president is closer than anticipated.
