As the Israel-Hamas conflict intensifies, President Joe Biden is presented with a silver lining - the chance to flip public perception regarding his most evident electoral vulnerability for the 2024 presidential race - his advanced age.
Despite national polls persistently revealing that citizens question Biden's capacity to hold Presidential responsibilities due to his advancing years, many Democrats are putting forth a convincing argument. They believe that Biden's applauded handling of the Middle-East crisis could mark a turning point, showing his extensive experience as advantageous for tackling complex, multifaceted challenges.
Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg insists, “Joe Biden’s age has been central to his success[…] In a time of Covid, insurrection, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, now challenges in the Middle East, we have the most experienced man ever as president."
However, overturning opinions that regard his physical appearance as indications of age-related decline– such as his slower walk and softer voice – may not be an easy feat. A recently released poll indicates that about three-fourths of adults don't believe Biden possesses “the stamina and sharpness to serve effectively as president.”
Despite this, Biden's leadership skills during the Israel crisis could be the necessary path for him to transform worries regarding his age into trust in his expertise. Leaders from across the ideological spectrum in the US and Israel have lauded his response to the Hamas attack as decisive and balanced.
James Steinberg, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, observes, “Biden is in his element here where relationships matter.”
Biden’s experience is perceived as a vital reason for increased Democratic trust in the present and a source of their potential anxiety about the future. However, many party leaders insist that Biden's reliability overshadows any potential successors.
“He’s been successful because of his age and experience not in spite of it,” counters Simon Rosenberg.
Despite the mixed belief, Biden's capacity to adeptly manage international affairs reflects his ability to work effectively offstage to produce robust international support for the Ukraine against Russia.
The Israel crisis has allowed Biden the chance to cast a spotlight on his attributes, and the former President Trump’s missteps after the Hamas attack helped to sharpen the contrast more favorably for Biden.
Democrats hope that Biden’s actions will convincingly exhibit the enduring presence of his political strength. William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and another Democratic strategist, suggests Biden will need a rigorous campaign schedule to demonstrate his vitality alongside his experience.
According to Galston, Biden's trips to active war zones project striking images that his campaign can use to make a lasting impression. Despite this, analysts agree that tangible results will be the most important metric for Biden in the coming months.
Biden's faithful supporters remain hopeful that his measured response to the Israel-Hamas conflict will portray him as a source of stability in an unpredictable world. However, only the aftermath of the volatile Middle East situation can validate whether this conflict serves as the defining turning point of his Presidency.
