In an attempt to take a shot at Joe Biden's age, the Republican National Committee last week put out a grossly misleading video of the president at the G7 meeting. It was replayed by conservative media outlets over and over again.
Will this strategy work? Yes, because most Americans believe both Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump are too old to run the country. But also because not everyone ages the same way.
Given the choice, I would rather have someone who shuffles a bit and at times appears a little frail than a man who is clearly unhinged and cannot hold a train of thought. Just last week, CNBC reported that after business leaders met with Trump, they were less likely to support him because he was "all over the map" and "doesn't know what he's talking about."
Biden's response has been to use humor to deflect the criticism. It's in keeping with a broader campaign tactic, as when he closed his video agreeing to a debate by saying he heard that Trump is free on Wednesdays — a reference to Trump's trial schedule. Next week, the two men will meet for a 90-minute debate. They have both agreed to the rules that include no audience and muted mics that will only be on when it is the candidate's turn to speak. This will be challenging for both candidates.
Much has been made about whether and how Biden should address the age issue. The fact is, Biden is going to appear older than Trump, but that will not be the comparison people will notice at the debate. With this format, Biden will be able to address the real issues facing our country, with knowledge and facts, compared to Trump, who rambles and lies.
As with the State of the Union, the debate will be a chance for Biden to show he's still sharp, despite physically slowing down. His light-handed approach so far seems like a smart way to show a contrast. My only advice to President Biden would be that he should not, under any circumstances, challenge Trump to a pushup contest.
