Washington Examiner, September 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris is attempting to use her relative youth to portray former President Donald Trump as part of the status quo. During Tuesday’s debate, Harris attempted to differentiate herself from President Joe Biden but also Trump by telling viewers that she offered “a new generation of leadership for our country.” “Clearly I am not Joe Biden, and I am certainly not Donald Trump,” Harris said.
The comment reflected an attempt to distance herself from the policies of her boss, which Republicans have blamed for high inflation and a crisis at the southern border. But it also served to use Trump’s age against him. At 78, Trump is almost two decades older than Harris. For most of the 2024 cycle, concerns over mental acuity were squarely focused on Biden, culminating in a June debate at which he struggled to complete his thoughts. But with Harris now at the top of the ticket, she is attempting to shake the idea that she is the incumbent in the race by making Trump’s own age a liability.
