A New York Times columnist argues President Joe Biden's declining health should not be a concern in his reelection bid.
The article comes just days after Biden announce his run for a second term that would leave him 86 years old when he would leave office.
#Impeach46NOW
NYT Downplays Joe Biden’s Decline: ‘American Government Can Function Without a Healthy President’ https://t.co/BXx16oeG3P— igyb59Z 🟦 🇮🇱🇺🇸✡️ (@igyb59) April 27, 2023
“Strange as it may sound, the American government can function without a healthy president," David Leonhardt stated in the article.
“In each case, White House aides, Cabinet secretaries and military leaders performed well despite the lack of a fully engaged leader,” he added, comparing Biden with past presidents who had health issues.
Nikki Haley says it's unlikely Biden will 'make it until 86 years old' https://t.co/tCbaqznOIG
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 27, 2023
GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley spoke out against the president's age as a concern for him running for a second term.
"He announced that he’s running again in 2024, and I think that we can all be very clear and say with a matter of fact that if you vote for Joe Biden you really are counting on a President Harris, because the idea that he would make it until 86 years old is not something that I think is likely," Haley told Fox News on Thursday.
68% of voters say Biden is ‘too old for another term,’ new poll finds https://t.co/DAOjuRBaCN pic.twitter.com/kX03gzQ7tW
— New York Post (@nypost) March 2, 2023
"Nearly seven in 10 registered voters, 68%, say the 80-year-old president is “too old for another term,” according to a Yahoo News/YouGov poll," released last month.
"Among Democrats, 48% agreed that Biden’s advanced age is a problem — more than the 34% of Democrats who disagreed with that belief," it added.
The president's second term is also complicated by weak approval ratings for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Harris has ranked even lower than Biden in many polls, with many concerned about her ability to lead if the president is unable to complete a second term.
The Times' claim that Biden's age or declining health is not an issue is a stretch for most Americans who see the need for another candidate. For Democrats, the concern is not having another winning option available, with many content to allow a rematch with former President Donald Trump and hope for the same results as in the 2020 election.
