The former President Donald Trump seems wary of the prospect of having to debate the current Vice President Kamala Harris. This may be related to the fact that he is now the oldest candidate in history to run for the presidency of the United States. Most observers believe that unlike Trump, Harris is quite well-prepared for the rigors of a presidential debate, should it come to that. Recent polls show not only that Harris holds a substantial lead over Trump, but that in a head-to-head debate scenario, she is the clear favorite to also win the debate. ... Harris's and Trump's campaigns have ramped up their activities in six battleground states that went for Biden in 2020 but that the Trump campaign hopes to flip back into its column in 2024.
In contrast, Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, have several campaign events lined up this week, where they are expected to ratchet up their rhetoric against Harris. Despite Trump's public bravado, his frequent blunders and advanced age have some voters and analysts a bit sketchy about him. His running mate, Sen. JD Vance, freaked out a bit when he found out that the Democrats had switched to Harris as their top of the ticket, calling it a "sucker punch." In a weekend address to donors in Minnesota, Vance noted that Harris doesn't carry the same "baggage" as Biden, and being significantly younger, she does not have the same troubles that Biden does.
Vance's spokesperson had the following to say about the senator's statements: “Kamala Harris is the reason why polls show Donald Trump leading. Under her 'weak, failed, and dangerously liberal agenda,' our country is worse off, especially in vital swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin." The spokesperson does not seem to mind that Trump has his own issues, primarily with age; a Harris spokesperson noted, "We aren't running a 'stop Joe Biden' campaign." In fact, the Harris team seems to have the wind at its back, with impressive fundraising numbers and strong delegate support going into the first Tuesday in March.
Her position is now solid, and the confidence of her supporters is soaring as she challenges Trump and his team. Donald Trump, at 77 years old, is the oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history. This has made age a noteworthy talking point in the 2024 election. Trump's many gaffes have not just been goofs; they've shaken some folks' faith in the ex-president's mental acuity. When it comes to handling the job of president, scrutinizing Trump's fitness for the office as a function of his age and error history is becoming a pastime for analysts and critics of all stripes.
Of late, Trump has goofed up in speeches. He has misstated some big facts and muddied some aspects of his policies and past events. These blunders have been touted by the Harris campaign as evidence of Trump's slackening mental grip, which they hold makes him unfit for another four years. As they did in 2016, both campaigns are pouring on the sauce to win over undecided voters in must-win states. Trump and running mate Vance once again are focusing their fire on Harris’s record and are tying her to dangerous liberalism. The Harris campaign is countering that potshot with a sunny vision of the future and assurances that Harris knows how to lead.
Given Trump’s age and mental competence, the debates that will happen over the next few weeks may be the former president’s best opportunity to shape public perception in a way that is favorable to him. Not only does he need to beat Biden in the court of public opinion, but he also has to avoid the appearance of weakness—something that his side has seemed to focus on over the past few weeks—with any questions being raised about his age, health, or mental fitness to serve.
