A recent poll indicates that a significant portion of the American population has concerns about the age and mental fitness of President Joe Biden and former President Trump. The survey, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs, found that over 75% of respondents believed President Biden’s age might affect his ability to effectively serve in the White House. Interestingly, even though former President Trump is only a few years younger than President Biden, approximately 50% of Americans thought Trump was too old to serve as president.
The poll revealed that concerns about age and fitness were not limited to one political party. A substantial 89% of Republicans and 69% of Democrats agreed with the idea that Biden might be too old for another four-year term as vice president.
Moreover, the survey highlighted a broader sentiment among Americans in favor of setting age limits for various political positions. Approximately two-thirds of respondents supported the idea of establishing maximum ages for lawmakers, the president, and Supreme Court judges, with 67% supporting mandatory retirement ages for Supreme Court judges and 66% endorsing age restrictions for House, Senate, and presidential candidates.
In anticipation of the 2024 Presidential Election, a Harvard Harris Poll showed that President Trump continued to lead among Republican candidates, while concerns about President Biden’s mental fitness were growing. Only 32% of respondents believed that Biden was mentally fit to serve as President, with 68% expressing doubts about his mental acuity.
In the event that President Biden decides not to run, Vice President Kamala Harris emerged as the preferred Democratic candidate in the survey. However, if Biden remains in the race, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. garnered 16% support, while Harris led with 44%.
These poll results suggest that concerns about President Biden’s mental fitness could play a crucial role in the 2024 Presidential Election, particularly among undecided voters. Analysts believe that Democrats must address these concerns proactively if they wish to secure a second term for Biden.
In the Republican camp, 54% of voters believed that Trump would ultimately win the nomination. However, if Trump did not become the nominee, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was the leading choice with 29%, followed by Vivek Ramaswamy at 19%, and former Vice President Mike Pence at 13%.
In hypothetical matchups, Trump maintained a five-point lead over Biden and a nine-point lead over Harris. DeSantis essentially tied with both Biden and Harris in direct matchups, according to the survey.
It’s worth noting that a significant portion of the electorate, around 60%, believed that neither Biden nor Trump should seek a second term. In a June survey conducted for NBC News, 68% of registered voters expressed concerns about Biden’s mental and physical health, a substantial increase from October 2020.
