A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that a significant portion (77 percent) of the U.S. population believes President Joe Biden may be too old for a second term.
The age concern transcends typical party lines, with 89 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats holding this view. This perspective on age does not only come from younger generations; it is also shared across age demographics.
However, the poll also shows that President Biden is not alone in facing age-based concerns. Approximately half of survey respondents expressed that former President Trump might also be too old for the presidency. This sentiment is more prevalent among Democrats than Republicans.
The age of presidential candidates has been an ongoing topic in American politics. President Biden is currently the oldest serving U.S. president. If he secures re-election in 2024 and completes his term, he will be 86 years old by 2029.
Age-related concerns aren’t exclusive to this AP-NORC poll. An earlier survey in August by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found that a majority of Democrats were “concerned” about Biden’s ability to perform his job due to his advanced age. This concern extended to discussions on whether his age should even prevent him from seeking another term. Similarly, an Economist-YouGov poll reported that around 45 percent of U.S. adults believe President Biden’s health and age might significantly restrict his capability in the role.
The poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, involved 1,165 adults and was conducted between August 10-14, 2023. The methodology used a sample from NORC’s AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population.
