Minnesota Democrat Gov. Tim Walz pushed aside voter considerations about President Joe Biden’s age when requested about it on Meet The Press through claiming it’s “ageism” and arguing his mother is in Biden’s age group and he or she still “drives herself.”
“Folks are in a position to try this,” he said.
Walz joined NBC’s Kristen Welker on Sunday for the latest Meet The Press on NBC amid the bitter iciness storm gripping the midwest and northeast on the eve of the Iowa Caucus, the first large take a look at for Republicans opposing Donald Trump for the GOP nomination.
Welker requested Walz about challenges going through Biden in the 2024 election, including the truth that voters routinely record questions concerning the 81-yr-outdated president’s competence and well being. “What does the campaign want to do to deal with this difficulty?” Welker asked.
Walz mentioned in his first response that there’s “something to be stated about age and wisdom” and argued that Biden delivered an Infrastructure Act, and said that when it’s a binary possibility between Biden or Trump the age thing is “overweighed.”
Welker once more requested about the campaign coping with the worries of voters, and Walz pushed aside those considerations a 2d time.
“I’ve spent a variety of time with the president and he’s great. We had been speaking, were chatting and all this. And I feel, you recognize, we all get just a little older. That’s what occurs. However you additionally acquire that insight,” he mentioned.
“Seem, my mother’s 88, still residing on the farm, drives herself. Um, other people are able to do that,” he stated. “So I believe this little little bit of ageism that goes to this — if it’s now not, that will be one thing else.”
WELKER: One of the giant considerations is his age. You’ve been an outspoken defender on this difficulty. This week, the First Woman went as far as to say it’s an “asset,” but voters aren’t buying that. What does the campaign need to do to deal with this difficulty?
WALZ: Smartly, first, there’s something to be stated about age and wisdom, and I believe outcomes matter. Look, I served in Congress for years and watched Infrastructure Week come and go. I watched Joe Biden ship on a ancient Infrastructure Act, that’s building roads and bridges across Minnesota, Iowa, and the remainder of the us of a. And I think it’s, as you begin to see right here, the place the choice turns into the binary possibility between Donald Trump and disdain for the rule of thumb of law and Joe Biden competency in getting issues accomplished that overweighs that well.
WELKER: But I assume the query is, is the marketing campaign taking this problem seriously sufficient? Do they wish to do extra?
WALZ: Well, I feel they’re. They’ve got us out here talking about it. And I’ve spent a variety of time with the president and he’s nice. We have been talking, had been chatting and all this. And I feel, you know, all of us get a bit of older. That’s what happens. However you additionally gain that perception. And I believe relating to these concerns working across the aisle to get issues finished, you see the president just doing this with dignity, doing it with class, getting up every day, doing the work. So I think he’s just doing what he does. And I believe it’s roughly incumbent upon everybody — seem to be, my mother’s 88, still living on the farm, drives herself. Um, folks are ready to do this. So I think this little bit of ageism that goes to this — if it’s not, that will be one thing else. They attack anybody on something. This is part of it.
In step with a new ABC poll out Sunday, simply 28 % of Americans consider Biden has the “mental sharpness” to be president.
Watch the clip above by the use of NBC Information.
The submit Democrat Governor Defends Biden Working for President at eighty one Through Noting His Personal 88-Year-Old Mother Still Drives first appeared on Mediaite.