Doubts grow for Joe Biden’s stamina for the job at 80

America’s oldest president’s birthday has been hailed as a ‘great landmark for him personally but horrible politically’.

US President Joe Biden. Picture: AFP

President Biden’s 80th birthday on Sunday has been hailed as a “great landmark for him personally but horrible politically” as questions mount over his stamina for another four years in office.

America’s oldest president wants to run for a second term, but his age brings with it “deep doubts”, according to Frank Luntz, a veteran election consultant who has known him for 30 years.

Even supporters admit that Biden’s birthday is a reminder to voters of a negative factor after some recent positives, including Congress passing giant infrastructure and microchip funding bills, and a steady hand in dealing with the war in Ukraine, and with China.

Now that the Republicans control the House of Representatives, he will have to endure a months-long assault on his character through their investigation into the business dealings of his son Hunter Biden. James Comer, a Kentucky congressman expected to chair the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said that investigating Biden and his family’s business dealings would be their priority.

“I want to be clear. This is an investigation of Joe Biden. That’s where the committee will focus,” Comer said. “Was Joe Biden directly involved with Hunter Biden’s business deals and is he compromised?”

Biden’s presidency is at a crossroads after Democrats recorded better than expected midterm election results but still lost their majority in the House of Representatives, while he considers his final decision about re-election.

Two observers, also aged 79, who have followed Biden’s career closely say that he has looked more assured than ever during the past week. Bob Woodward, the investigative journalist, said that he saw an “inner relaxation or confidence” in Biden that he had not seen before in his presidency. Dave Nagle, a former chairman of the Iowa Democrats, said the party felt “pleasantly surprised and grateful” after Biden’s performance.

Biden’s average approval rating from all polls is 41.9 per cent, lower than any other postwar president at this stage but up from its summer lows.

Luntz’s research suggests that a “large minority” of Democrats would like Biden to pass on the torch. His support has collapsed among independent voters who backed him in 2020 following cost of living rises.

“This is a day of celebration for him personally and a day of commiseration politically because the public has come to doubt that he has the stamina for another four years,” said Luntz. “[Voters] are satisfied with him today but they question whether he’s up for another four years.”

Luntz said he expected Biden to take his time before he states whether he will launch a re-election campaign, despite Donald Trump’s early move to announce his run this week. The first primary votes are not cast until January 2024. Biden has said that it is his “intention” to run again but will make his final decision known next year.

“If he’s not going to run, he can’t acknowledge it now because the day he [does] is the day his administration’s over,” Luntz said. “[If] He’s asking to be affirmed for six years from now. That’s a pretty tall ask.”

Woodward said of Biden’s press conference after the midterm results: “You could see something in his eyes that was not triumphant, but much more relaxed and confident.”

Nagle said he thought Biden was “pretty solid right now” with Democrats and might well go ahead with his plans to seek a second term. “He is really hitting his stride,” he said.

Comer’s committee will investigate claims by whistleblowers that he said showed connections between the president and the business activities of Hunter Biden. One is Tony Bobulinksi, who was being lined up by Hunter Biden to head a deal with the Chinese energy company CEFC in 2017. It came to nothing but included plans to give 10 per cent of profits to “the big guy”. Bobulinksi says this was Joe Biden.

The White House accused the House Republicans of planning “politically motivated attacks chock full of long-debunked conspiracy theories”.

During the 2020 election campaign, Andrew Bates, a Biden spokesman, said: “Joe Biden has never even considered being involved in business with his family, nor in any overseas business whatsoever.”

The Times