Share
News

Biden Says His VP Must Be Capable of Running Country ‘Because I’m an Old Guy’

Share

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden told an audience in Iowa on Tuesday that his choice for vice president will have to be “immediately” capable of taking over as commander-in-chief “because I’m an old guy.”

The remark highlights what many consider the former vice president’s biggest political liability. If elected in November,  he will be 78 by Inauguration Day, making him the oldest president ever sworn into office by eight years.

Biden initially was asked if he would select California Sen. Kamala Harris as his second-in-command.

He praised the former presidential candidate, saying that “she has the capacity to do just about anything.”

But Biden said his first requirement for vice president is that the person is capable of taking over as president.

Trending:
Federal Judge Has Bad News for Hunter Biden, Says There's Zero Evidence His Charges Are Politically Motivated

“For me, it has to be demonstrated that whomever I pick, there’s two things: One, he’s capable of immediately being a president, because I’m an old guy,” he said.

Biden immediately qualified his candid remarks, saying that he is “in great health” because he works out every morning.

Do you think Joe Biden is too old to be president?

The former vice president has insisted throughout the campaign that his age should improve his electability.

“Look, one of the reasons I’m running is because of my age and my experience,” Biden said during a debate on Oct. 15.

“With it comes wisdom,” he continued. “We need someone to take office this time around who on day one can stand on the world stage, command the respect of world leaders from [Russia’s Vladimir] Putin to our allies, and know exactly what has to be done to get this country back on track.”

Biden has been dogged by concerns about his age throughout the campaign.

His chief critics have pointed to his repeated gaffes on the campaign trail and several speeches where he misidentified cities and states, or mixed up decades when certain events occurred.

Related:
Hunter Biden Whistleblower Tony Bobulinski Suing Liberal Fox News Host - 'Lies Have Consequences'

Earlier on Tuesday, Biden snapped at an Iowa voter who questioned his position on gas pipelines.

“Go vote for someone else,” Biden told the man.

Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez questioned whether Biden’s age had anything to do with his poor debate performances over the summer.

“His [Biden’s] performance on the stage kind of raised some questions with respect to [his age],” the New York Democrat said in an interview in July.

Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the Democratic presidential race. Sanders, 78, is older than Biden.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, , , , , ,
Share
Founded by Tucker Carlson, a 25-year veteran of print and broadcast media, and Neil Patel, former chief policy adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, The Daily Caller News Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing original investigative reporting from a team of professional reporters that operates for the public benefit. Photo credit: @DailyCaller on Twitter




Conversation