Nate Silver, the mind behind FiveThirtyEight, emphasized on Monday that age should be a genuine factor to consider for voters when thinking about President Biden in the 2024 election. He indicated that a potential misstep or lapse on Biden’s part could pave the way for Trump’s return to office.
Silver mentioned in his newsletter that if analysts and experts don’t recognize that Biden’s age might be a genuine and legitimate worry for voters, they should brace for the possibility of Trump’s second tenure.
He further elaborated that the upcoming election could be a tight one, suggesting that a single significant slip-up from Biden could tilt the balance in Trump’s favor.
This comment alluded to an incident involving Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who recently paused unexpectedly for roughly 30 seconds while addressing the media. Notably, the senator had a similar episode in late July, where he paused for around 20 seconds during a media interaction at the Capitol and was then assisted away.
Silver highlighted that, although the age difference between Biden and Trump isn’t vast, with Biden being 80 and Trump 77, this slight age gap could have potential significance. Drawing from population statistics, Silver remarked that the ages they would be during their next possible presidential terms align with a phase where the risk of mortality tends to escalate annually.
Silver further commented that if voters evaluate the two based on general population statistics or maybe their own experiences with elderly family members, it wouldn’t be irrational for them to consider the age difference between Biden and Trump as an important factor.
