Gov. Ron Desantis (R-Fla.) warned Republican voters to āassumeā that President Joe Biden would not be the Democratic presidential candidate in the 2024 election.
While speaking during a town hall event on Monday with Newsmax, DeSantis, 45, described himself as being in āthe primeā of his life compared to Biden, who turned 81 on the same day, and Trump, 77.
DeSantis added he believes the Democratic Party āknowsā Bidenās age is a ābig issueā to voters.
āI think that the Democrats know hisā¦the ageā¦itās a big issue with voters, I think,ā DeSantis said. āAnd, so I think they want someone else.ā
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DeSantis stressed how Biden āshould not be running againā and compared āwhere he was 40 years agoā to where he is today you can see a decline in him.
āThis is father time,ā DeSantis added. āThis is just the nature of life that this happens. And, if youāre a pilot for an airline they make you retire at 65. So, if you canāt pilot a plane, somehow at 81 you can pilot the United States of America. And, we see, heās totally lost step. I mean, itās a daily embarrassment.ā
Bidenās age has been a significant concern among voters. An Associated Press/NORC poll from August showed that 77% of voters felt that Bidenās age was a bigger problem for his reelection. This is compared to Trumpās age where 51% of voters felt Trumpās age was a problem.
A similar Reuters/Ipsos poll from September showed that 77% of people were concerned about Bidenās age and fitness to be president, while 56% of people said Trump was too old for office.
āThey also know they canāt just push him aside,ā DeSantis said, referring to the Democratic Party. āHeās got to agree. Heās the sitting president, and I donāt know how thatās going to work. I donāt know if heās going to be willing to do it. But, Republican voters and Iowa caucusgoers, you should assume that it may not be Biden.ā
DeSantis added that Republicans should be prepared to vote for a candidate who will do better against possible presidential candidates such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.).
While Newsom has denied that he is running for president in the upcoming 2024 election and has expressed support for Biden, recent political moves suggest he may be running a shadow campaign to be the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.
