The Biden administration is reportedly dismissing concerns over Biden’s age – specifically, questions about a potential Kamala Harris succession.
According to The Washington Examiner, “In recent interviews for a new profile of Harris published by The Atlantic, the officials dismissed the questions even though Biden is 80.”
Biden is the only octogenarian ever to serve as president of the United States. Accordingly, the public is concerned with the premise of a second Biden term – a term that would take Biden past his 86th birthday.
“White House chief of staff Jeff Zients was asked by The Atlantic’s Elaina Plott Calabro about Harris’s observed traits that give him confidence in her ability as the potential president,” The Examiner reported.
“Well, I want to, you know, make sure we’re not talking about anything – but, you know, she’s prepared,” Biden said in an initial response.
Valid Concerns on Kamala Harrus
Biden has already exceeded the life expectancy for a U.S. male. In order to live through a second term, Biden would need to live a full decade beyond that figure. Statistically speaking, getting Biden to 86 could be difficult. So it’s reasonable for members of the media and the public to begin openly asking whether Biden can survive a second term, and if not, to as how we all feel about a Harris presidency.
Vice President Kamala Harris is deeply unpopular, which confounds concerns about Biden’s survivability. Most citizens are not enthusiastic about Harris assuming the presidency. Remember, when Harris ran for president in 2020, she polled in the low single digits before dropping from the race early, in December 2019. Even among Democrats, the interest in a Harris presidency was limited.
Yet despite concerns over Harris’s popularity, she will remain on the ticket with Biden for the 2024 election. The move is risky, given Biden’s age and the unpopularity of both. Still, removing Harris from the ticket could prove risky.
Typically, when Kamala Harris is criticized, her defenders are quick to cite racism or misogyny as the force behind the criticism. Sure, sometimes, racism and misogyny may play a role in criticism from certain corners. But the categorical dismissal of criticism as racism or misogyny is a ridiculous oversimplification stemming from the woke worldview.
Regardless, if Harris were dismissed from the ticket, the backlash would be intense. The left would vociferously claim racism or misogyny before devouring itself just in time for a general election against a Republican Party that has been gaining traction with minority voters.
Moving Forward
Maybe Harris hasn’t always gotten a fair shake. Maybe Biden gave her assignments that were political grenades. Or maybe Harris just lacks the charisma, the smarts, or the personal touch to convince voters to vote for her. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter all that much. Democrats are autopiloting into an election with what might be the most unpopular ticket ever, with a presidential candidate that is perhaps too old to survive a second term, and a vice presidential candidate that no one wants to see as president.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor and opinion writer at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
