How much will Age matter in 2020?

[LabourJersey]

This is just a general question based on how Sanders, Biden and others do appear to be serious about running despite the fact they'll be in the late 70s in Nov. 2020. Of course Trump will be 74.

Do you think age will be a major issue in the Democratic primary and general election? Could it be one of the major deciding factors?

[twenty42]

I'd say the fact that the two favorites for the Democratic nomination will be pushing 80 in 2020 is probably a valid concern for Democrats.

[RFKFan68]

People can drop dead at any moment. That's why we also elect a Vice President on Election Day.

[Mr. Morden]

As I've been saying recently, it is a bigger factor for the candidates themselves in deciding whether to run or not than it is for the voters in deciding who to vote for.  Do you really want to spend your twilight years in a high visibility high pressure job like POTUS, during a period of your life when you may well experience both physical and mental decline?  And further, do you want to spend 18 months+ running for that job, when you might not win it?

I don't know.  Only the candidates themselves can answer that, and I'm not sure they have any clue at this early stage.

But if they do run, then, assuming zero health issues crop up during the campaign (which I guess is a big assumption), I'm not sure it'll be that big a deal for voters.  However, one caveat I was thinking about recently is that for someone as old as a Biden or Sanders running for president, they might have to make it explicit that if anything serious happens health-wise during their presidency that would prevent them from doing the job at 100% capacity, they'd be prepared to step down and let their VP take over.  I'm not sure if even a one term pledge is enough, since issues could crop up in the middle of your term.  Just say that the country needs a president who is operating at 100%, and in the unlikely event that I'm no longer able to operate at 100%, then I'll step down from the job.

[I'm a prince to the grifters, I turn apostles to pimps]

I'd say the fact that the two favorites for the Democratic nomination will be pushing 80 in 2020 is probably a valid concern for Democrats.

The incumbent President will be 74 and severely overweight (barring a MAJOR lifestyle change) come 2020.

[MarkD]

I don't know if age Could be a major issue, but IMO it SHould be one. I think that the Democratic Party ought to be promoting, as their first-tier candidates, people who were born after Barack Obama, like Harris, Bullock, Gillibrand, and Booker.

[LabourJersey]

I'd say the fact that the two favorites for the Democratic nomination will be pushing 80 in 2020 is probably a valid concern for Democrats.

The incumbent President will be 74 and severely overweight (barring a MAJOR lifestyle change) come 2020.

I did mention Trump's age in my post, and I think the Dems would be very smart to make Trump's age and health an issue. On an anecdotal level, quite a few friends of mine who voted for both Clinton and Trump honestly did not know Trump was 70 when he was elected. Young voters knew he was old and fat, but the angle of him being the oldest President ever was never made visible

[60+ GOP Seats After 2018 GUARANTEED]

I'd say the fact that the two favorites for the Democratic nomination will be pushing 80 in 2020 is probably a valid concern for Democrats.

The incumbent President will be 74 and severely overweight (barring a MAJOR lifestyle change) come 2020.

I did mention Trump's age in my post, and I think the Dems would be very smart to make Trump's age and health an issue. On an anecdotal level, quite a few friends of mine who voted for both Clinton and Trump honestly did not know Trump was 70 when he was elected. Young voters knew he was old and fat, but the angle of him being the oldest President ever was never made visible

Trump has remarkable energy for a 70 year old, that's why.

He was doing like 5 rallies a day for weeks while Clinton was sleeping.

[History505]

With Trump being 74, no one is really going to care.

[Tancred]

I don't think so. People are living longer these days and it seems like most people don't care about age that much. Once people latch onto a candidate age doesn't seem to matter much. I can't imagine Trump or Sanders supporters dropping their support for their candidates due to age. Only major health issues would knock them out of the box so as long as candidates like Trump, Sanders and Biden are healthy I think they should be fine.

[UWS]

In addition, Indiana Jones 5 will be released in the theaters at the summer of 2020 and Harrison Ford will be in at 78 years old, the same age as Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. So it could be used in a joke to justify their good shape in a candidacy.

[Possiblymaybe]

With Trump being 74, no one is really going to care.

I am backing Sanders but I don't think age is irrelevant. If you run a younger dynamic candidate against trump age wil be relevant. Just remember how McCain looked against Obama.

[GGover]

If Trump runs against someone under 70, it will be an issue.

If Trump runs against Sanders or Biden, I think both sides will try to ignore the issue to avoid triggering a reaction.