Top aides who served under former President Barack Obama say voter concerns regarding President Joe Biden’s age, health, and cognitive state are a very real problem for the 81-year-old’s re-election effort. Now hosts of the popular progressive podcast Pod Save America, Obama speechwriters Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett argue Biden has visibly declined compared to just a few years ago.
“If you watch Joe Biden speak, oftentimes he sounds frail, and he sounds more frail than he used to, even in 2019 and 2020,” Favreau noted before adding: “The voice sounds frail, and he shuffles more because of the arthritis in his back.”
Lovett contends, however, that the White House staff needs to get Biden out in public more, even if it means risking increased gaffes. The two Obama speechwriters agreed that the lack of public and press events is more likely to fuel voter concerns regarding Biden’s age than the gaffes.
“I’m sure that going out there means more missteps … more gaffes that start circulating, but if you don’t view Biden being out there as a net positive, then the argument he shouldn’t be running is right,” Lovett said. Favreau, in agreement with Lovett, added: “When world events seem like they are overtaking him and he’s not out there enough forcefully, that’s what’s getting people concerned.”
Another former Obama White House aide echoed the concerns of Favreau and Lovett. Former Obama senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer recently told the Courier that Biden’s age has become a “very real issue.” He said: “If Biden can’t assuage, particularly among his voters from 2020, then I don’t think he can win the election — so in some ways, it’s the crux for his campaign.”