WASHINGTON — One week after questions boiled over about Joe Biden’s age and acuity, the president’s near-total maintain on the levers of energy throughout the Democratic Party has by no means been extra obvious.
Interviews with donors, strategists and lawmakers discovered only some had been shaken by a particular counsel report that forged Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory,” and his subsequent information convention wherein he blended up the leaders of Mexico and Egypt. One Democrat, who requested anonymity to talk candidly, likened it to a slow-motion prepare wreck.
But Democrats say they continue to be dedicated to Biden’s candidacy, regardless of the turmoil of the previous seven days.
Their dedication was solely bolstered by Donald Trump, who pushed the president’s woes from the entrance pages with one other high-profile controversy. The Republican frontrunner’s pronouncement that he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to NATO allies who don’t spend sufficient on their militaries rattled world leaders and put Biden again on offense.
The episode instantly validated Democrats’ argument for a second Biden time period: The president may be outdated and generally forgetful, however his possible opponent is a chaotic determine who threatens American democracy and the worldwide order.
None of that modifications the truth that age stays Biden’s biggest legal responsibility within the November election. He is already the oldest president in U.S. historical past, and can be 86 on the finish of a second time period. Each successive misstep dangers turning off voters, notably these tuned out of politics, that Biden’s marketing campaign aides say he must win over with the intention to maintain Trump out of workplace.
One Democratic fundraiser on Wall Street, who requested anonymity to debate the scenario, likened Biden’s age to rain on a good friend’s marriage ceremony day: Even whether it is lower than perfect, his supporters will present up for the sake of the connection.
Painful blow
Trump is barely 4 years youthful than Biden, however particular counsel Robert Hur’s description of the president delivered a painful blow.
Three quarters of voters – together with half of Democrats – say they’re involved about Biden’s age, versus simply 61% who say the identical about Trump’s a number of felony fees, in keeping with an NBC News ballot launched final week.
One former Biden adviser in contrast the scenario to the dynamic Trump faces in Washington, the place his Republican allies criticize him privately whereas defending him publicly out of loyalty. The particular person stated Democrats are apprehensive about polls displaying voter concern about Biden’s health is bigger than Trump’s missteps or unpopular insurance policies.
Progressives and moderates alike signaled assist for the president, as did state and native officers throughout swing states.
“I think all of the other things that are going on out there, losing our democracy possibly and those kinds of things, are going to offset anything like that,” stated Michael Engelberger, the supervisor of Dane County in Wisconsin.
In Erie County, an important Pennsylvania swing district, former Democratic Party chairman Jim Wertz acknowledged that Trump comes throughout as “loud and boisterous” in comparison with the extra “reserved” Biden, although he stated individuals nonetheless see the president as “pretty active.”
“That also plays into the narrative of how how age affects his candidacy,” stated Wentz.
Some strategists and former Biden advisers in Washington concede their occasion is making a high-stakes wager to again Biden towards Trump contemplating how a lot voters are apprehensive about his age.
‘On the ball’
One Wall Street contributor acknowledged the age difficulty was Democrats’ greatest problem in 2024, however they stated the race would in the end remodel right into a referendum on Trump — whose thirst for the highlight can remind the general public of his destabilizing presidency.
“This is a Le Diplomate, cable studio, donor class-induced drama,” stated Matt Paul, an adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential marketing campaign who now leads Cornerstone Public Affairs, referencing a buzzy Washington restaurant popular with the political class. “Most American voters will not dial into this until June.”
Democratic officers who’ve made little secret of their future White House ambitions additionally rallied round Biden, reasonably than angle to exchange him. Going towards the president would virtually certainly lead to an enormous backlash from occasion brass, since it will danger weakening Biden and strengthening Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris known as the Hur report “inappropriate” and “troubling,” whereas Illinois Governor JB Pritzker described Biden as “on the ball.”
Jokes and TikTok
Still, worries concerning the state of the race are pervasive in Washington and throughout influential media channels. Comedian Jon Stewart, returning to Comedy Central’s The Daily Show on Monday after an almost nine-year hiatus, described Biden and Trump each as “stretching the limits of being able to handle the toughest job in the world.”
A former Biden official stated Biden’s marketing campaign wanted to do a greater job seizing media consideration. Biden’s group turned down an interview forward of the Super Bowl – which drew a document 123.4 million viewers – although it launched a brand new account on the social media web site TikTok in the course of the sport.
Biden himself appeared to take one piece of constant donor recommendation: utilizing humor to defuse the scenario. At a gathering with county-level officers on Monday, he quipped he had “been around awhile – I do remember that.”
(Bloomberg reporters Nancy Cook, Bill Allison, Amanda Gordon, Mark Niquette, John Harney, Kathleen Hunter and Skylar Woodhouse contributed to this story.)
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