A report published by Newsmax on Tuesday reveals growing concerns among former aides of Barack Obama regarding President Joe Biden’s advanced age, labeling it a “very real issue.” The aides express apprehension about Biden’s perceived frailty and inarticulateness, drawing parallels to his condition during the Obama administration.
Jon Favreau, the main speechwriter for former President Obama, brought attention to Biden’s current state during an episode of the “Pod Save America” podcast. Favreau voiced his observations, stating, “If you watch Joe Biden speak, oftentimes he sounds frail and he sounds more frail than he used to, even in 2019 and 2020.” He specifically pointed to changes in Biden’s voice and physical demeanor, attributing them to the 81-year-old president’s struggles with arthritis in his back.
Favreau’s concerns extended beyond Biden’s personal well-being, emphasizing the impact on public perception. Citing polls indicating that approximately 80% of Americans harbor worries about Biden’s age, he urged the White House to address the issue directly, emphasizing that the president’s apparent decline is evident to voters.
Despite Biden’s recent verbal stumbles and gaffes, Favreau proposed an unconventional strategy for the president – to appear on camera more frequently, not less. He argued that increased visibility would be crucial in reassuring voters about Biden’s capability for another term. “When world events seem like they are overtaking him and he’s not out there enough forcefully, that’s what’s getting people concerned,” Favreau explained.
In a separate interview, former Obama senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer echoed Favreau’s concerns, labeling Biden’s age as a “very real issue” with implications for the president’s reelection campaign. According to Pfeiffer, if Biden fails to address concerns about his age, particularly among voters who supported him in 2020, it could jeopardize his chances of winning the election.
Pfeiffer outlined what he believes should be the “first strategic priority” for Biden’s reelection campaign – addressing and allaying fears about the president’s age. He emphasized the need to change the minds of a specific segment of voters who have already formed the opinion that Biden is too old for the job, recognizing that this group may be closed off to listening to Biden’s messages due to their preconceived notions. “There’s a segment of voters who have decided — as of right now, I think their minds can be changed — who have decided that Joe Biden is too old for the job and can’t do it, so they’re not going to listen to anything he says,” he asserted.