In a new ad for his re-election campaign, President Biden is trying to turn one of his biggest liabilities as a candidate, his age, into an advantage.
“Look, I’m not a young guy. “It’s no secret,” says a smiling Mr. Biden, speaking directly to the camera. “But here’s the deal: I understand how to get things done for the American people.”
The 81-year-old president continues to list the accomplishments of his first term, including his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, capping insulin prices for older consumers and passing infrastructure legislation – likely contrasting his record with that of former President Donald J. Trump Republican candidate whom he accuses of taking away women’s “freedom of choice” in reproductive matters.
With a fiery State of the Union address under his belt, Mr Biden is moving into full campaign mode. The new ad is the first of a $30 million campaign that will target key battleground states over the next six weeks. Mr. Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses travel across the country to host political events. And on Saturday, three Democratic groups representing people of color — the AAPI Victory Fund, the Collective PAC and the Latino Victory Fund — endorsed Mr. Biden and committed to spending another $30 million to turn out their voters.
Mr. Biden often jokes about his age in small circles. But Americans may be more familiar with his angry comments about a recent special counsel report that described him as a “well-meaning, older man with a poor memory.”
The new ad, titled “For You,” represents a change in tone. Its playful familiarity could appeal to younger voters whose support Mr. Biden needs to bolster, and it will run on channels popular with a younger demographic, including ESPN, Adult Swim and Comedy Central.
The spot even contains an outtake. After the standard announcement that Mr. Biden has approved the message, an offscreen voice asks him to take one more shot.
“Look, I am very young, energetic and good-looking. What the hell am I doing this for?” Mr. Biden responds with a mischievous grin before the screen goes black.
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2024-03-09 12:00:37
www.nytimes.com