Joe Biden marks 81st birthday amid re-election worries
Joe Biden celebrated his 81st birthday in a subdued manner, foregoing a grand celebration. Instead, he participated in the traditional White House event of «pardoning» two turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving.
Addressing the crowd on the White House South Lawn, Biden humorously remarked, «It's my birthday today.
I just want you to know, it's difficult turning 60.» He initiated the turkey ceremony, which has been a long-standing White House tradition.
Amidst ongoing concerns about his age dominating discussions around his potential 2024 reelection campaign, Biden, already the oldest president in U.S. history, would be 86 if he completed a second term.
During the event, Biden shared that Steve Lykken, chairman of the National Turkey Federation, and Lykken's family had sung «Happy Birthday» to him inside the White House before the turkey-pardoning ceremony.
Biden, known for light-hearted remarks about his octogenarian status in June said, «I know I'm 198 years old,» as poll after poll shows it remains one of his biggest election liabilities.
Despite his attempts at humor, polls consistently highlight concerns about Biden's age as a significant electoral challenge.
A recent Monmouth University poll found that 76% of voters believe Biden is too old for a second term, compared to 48% for Republican leader Donald Trump, who is 77. An NBC News poll released on Sunday indicated that Biden is trailing Trump in a hypothetical rematch, especially among voters aged 18 to 34, historically part of the Democratic base.
Biden's approval rating has reached an all-time low of 40% in the NBC News poll, with Trump leading nationally in a hypothetical matchup.
Democratic primary challenges, such as the one from Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn.,
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