"Biden Too Old"... US Presidential Candidate Haley Attacks Age Again

by Jo Youjin

Published 19 Dec.2023 05:27(KST)

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has reignited the controversy over President Joe Biden's age.

According to major foreign media on the 18th (local time), Haley's campaign released a new political ad in which she bluntly attacked, saying, "Biden is too old." She also targeted Congress, stating, "Congress is the most exclusive nursing home in America."

The Washington Post (WP) described this as "the most direct attack on President Biden's age since the start of the presidential race."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Haley, who is 51 years old this year, sparked fierce controversy when she announced her presidential bid last February by saying, "There will be term limits in Congress, and politicians over 75 years old will be required to undergo mandatory mental capacity tests."

President Biden is 81 years old this year, and former President Donald Trump is 77. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, is 83, and Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has continuously shown signs of health issues, is 81.

The ad is scheduled to air simultaneously in Iowa and New Hampshire, where the first and second Republican primaries will be held in January next year. Iowa uses a caucus system where only party members vote, while New Hampshire holds a primary open to all voters.

However, the ad made no mention of former President Donald Trump, who is solidifying his dominant position.

At the time of her candidacy announcement, Haley lagged far behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in terms of support, but recently she has been gaining attention as a challenger to Trump, especially among moderate Republicans.

A CBS poll conducted from the 8th to the 15th targeting New Hampshire voters showed that while former President Trump remains strong with 55% support, Haley's support rose to 29%, narrowing the gap to 15 percentage points.