Joking about his age: Biden describes himself as “young and handsome” in a commercial

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President Biden: “What the hell am I doing this for?”

Photo: Jim Watson / AFP

The advanced age of the current US President is one of the issues that is already shaping the election campaign.

Many Americans have doubts that Joe Biden is fit enough to last another four years in the White House.

Both Republicans and the media repeatedly rely on the 81-year-old's regular misfires and slips of the tongue, which are supposed to prove his alleged decline.

The president has now directly addressed concerns about his age in a commercial.

“Look, I'm not a young guy.

“It’s no secret,” Biden begins the spot.

"But I understand how to get things done for the American people."

Biden's campaign team launched the $30 million advertising campaign on Saturday in the electorally crucial swing states.

The 60-second advertising film should appear on channels such as ESPN, TNT, Comedy Central and FX, reports the news service “Bloomberg”.

As befits an election commercial, the president lists the achievements of his time in office: “I led the country through the Covid crisis,” said Biden.

»Today we have the strongest economy in the world.

I passed a law that lowers prescription drug prices and caps insulin prices for seniors at $35 a month.”

In contrast to his State of the Union speech, Biden's advertising campaign is directly against his predecessor in the White House: "For four years, Donald Trump tried to pass an infrastructure law and he failed.

I did it," says Biden and continues to tease: "Donald Trump believes that it is the president's job to take care of Donald Trump.

I believe the president's job is to fight for you, the American people, and that's what I do."

At the end of the commercial, the president's age and physical condition are discussed again.

In an outtake, a producer asks Biden off camera for another take, whereupon the 81-year-old jokes: "Look, I'm very young, energetic and good-looking.

What the hell am I doing this for?”

Whether the open treatment of his age in Biden's election commercial eliminates doubts about his mental fitness remains questionable.

According to a representative survey by the Ipsos Institute for the TV channel ABC News in mid-February, 86 percent of participants said Biden was too old for the job of president.

There was recent support from Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who defended Biden against critics: “You shouldn't immediately assume that because someone walks a little slower that he is therefore not in a position to hold such a big office and to lead this country lead.

Joe Biden can do that,” said Scholz.

In addition to humorous commercials, there was also serious politics at the White House on Saturday: The president signed a $460 billion package of spending bills.

It was passed by the Senate in time to avoid a shutdown of many key federal agencies.

eru/AP