President Joe Biden on Sept. 4 touted his accomplishments in an address to union workers in Philadelphia to mark Labor Day and pushed back against critics who say he’s too old to seek a second term.
“Someone said, ‘You know, that Biden is getting old, man.’ I tell you what. The only thing that comes with age is a little bit of wisdom. I’ve been doing this longer than anybody, and guess what? I’m going to continue to do it with your help,” President Biden said to begin his remarks.
In a recent Wall Street Journal poll, an overwhelming majority of voters said he’s too old to run for president again.
Two-thirds of Democrats and almost three-quarters of voters overall said the 80-year-old incumbent is too old to run for a second term. Although the age difference between the candidates is only three years, 73 percent of respondents said President Biden is too old to seek a second term, while only 47 percent felt the same way about former President Donald Trump, who’s 77.
The poll also shows that the candidates have the same amount of support in a potential rematch of the 2020 election, with each holding 46 percent.
Park Avenue Versus Scranton
President Biden has long expressed his support for labor unions and branded himself as “the most pro-union president” in U.S. history. However, his handling of the country’s economy has been a source of concern for many Americans, notably blue-collar workers, because of high inflation.
In Philadelphia, he spoke about the economy, attempting to change the perception of voters by drawing a contrast with President Trump, front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination.
President Biden said the 45th president was one of two presidents during whose terms the number of jobs in the United States decreased.
“By the way, you know who the other one was? Herbert Hoover,” President Biden said.
In Philadelphia, despite the 84-degree weather and high humidity, his speech was more invigorating than previous ones, and it resembled a campaign speech.
By Emel Akan
