The folks Chris Hayes talks to agree: Concern over Biden is about his 'age and acuity,' not ideology

We might as well get it out there: Joe Biden is 76 years old. We didn’t think much of it until the first round of Democratic debates, when “Sleepy” Joe Biden looked, well, sleepy. He’d bail out of answers while he still had time left on the clock. Kamala Harris took no mercy and beat on the poor old guy, citing his work with segregationists and hammering him on busing, making him seem even older.

And even though Biden was vice president up until January 2017, every other Democrat on stage took his or her turn slamming the Obama administration for its policies on deportation, criminal justice reform, and especially Obamacare, which was supposed to have fixed the health care system in America. Still the frontrunner, Biden was the punching bag, and so was the Obama administration by proxy. And we’d been assured by staffers that Biden was ready to throw down Wednesday night.

ProPublica’s Alec MacGillis believes that Biden’s problem isn’t clawing votes away from progressives, but proving that he’s still got what it takes.

Yes, much of resistance to Biden on left is ideological. But the bigger division now among Dem voters is between those paying close enough attention that they're worried about Biden's age and acuity, and those whose basic affection for him hasn't been tested by close appraisal.

— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) August 1, 2019

Another way to say this is that for Biden skeptics, it's not necessarily a choice btwn "electable" Biden and more desirable "heart" candidate. Rather, the concern is precisely about electability, whether he has the fight and agility and vigor and command of issues needed to win.

— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) August 1, 2019

I think this right, though I'd also would at least leave open the possibility that the people paying closest attention are misapprehending the situation.

But yes, in the folks I talk to, the biggest concerns about Biden are *not* primarily ideological at all. https://t.co/H340Y4DcEp

— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 1, 2019

Dude is almost 80 and no longer can throw a fastball. No disrespect to him. I'll probably either be dead or in a pool of my own spittle at his age.

— Jamie Elmhirst (@elmhirst_jamie) August 1, 2019

I have a lot of concerns about Biden and Bernie because of their age.

I am tired of the media trying to shove Biden down people’s throats like they did Hillary. Look how well that worked out.

How about we actually let Americans decide?

— Goose (@MotherGoose1919) August 1, 2019

He’s too old, too male, too white.

— Jason Kwiat (@JasonKwiat) August 1, 2019

He seemed shaky and weak last night.

— Justin Hendrix (@justinhendrix) August 1, 2019

My nickname for Biden is "Glass Joe" because, based on my observations he would shatter under the pressure.

— P2 (@flounder_MA) August 1, 2019

He would be 82 at the end of a first term. 82. That's just too old. We have a minimum age to be president; there should be a maximum age as well (like 70 as of date of swearing-in).

— Lynn R Schrader (@lynnrschrader) August 1, 2019

I only watched a little bit. But he was trying to say things his mouth could not quite get out. It was like he was 76 years of age or something. I assume TV pundits will gas light about it.

— Robert P. Dean (@RobertPDean1) August 1, 2019

Do you mean Joe 3033 uh 0?

— Eileen McGurty (@EileenMcgurty) August 1, 2019

He can’t even remember a URL. At a time when one of the biggest issues is sophisticated technological warfare we need someone who understands these things

— Paola Thomas #FBPE (@realpaolathomas) August 1, 2019

Or maybe it’s both. Biden is too conservative, his ideas just aren’t current. Lately he’s been showing signs of why he’s having trouble keeping up with the dialogue. It’s unfortunate because I think he has shown a lot of growth over the years, but it’s never really been enough.

— Scott (@GoodJobScott) August 1, 2019

i’m worried biden is not mentally intact anymore

— ????️‍?Impeachtrump (@LillyRobinsons) August 1, 2019

He's no longer a sharp tool in the shed. He shows up as old and unable to compete. I don't find him authentic nor do I find him motivational. Same sad old school way will net same results. I also don't collapse him with Obama. He was the VP, we all know that's not a policy maker

— Bob Jones (@BobJones4realz) August 1, 2019

The list of D leadership that is worn, weary, and wobble is long. It does *not* take great insight to see that Biden is struggling for words and loses concentration. If Biden is not up to the task, his handlers need to be honest.

— observe_ct (@CtObserve) August 1, 2019

I hate to say it, but he does seem to have lost a step. I don't think he's our best chance to beat Trump. We need someone who is quick on their feet with a lightening grasp of the issues. Can we infuse some of Mayor Pete in Biden?

— Allen Lunde (@PoohBair) August 1, 2019

100% for me. One. Hundred. Percent.

— Ȼ Đ Ƀ ♓ (@chrisbrad22) August 1, 2019

He’s lost a step or two and it is very obvious in the debate setting.

— ImaDarling (@IamaTigerGirl86) August 1, 2019

He does not look like he would do well in a debate with trump. How is he supposedly the most electable? Bernie sanders is older than him and is clearly more capable of answering a question.

— Jesse (@JesseVote2020) August 1, 2019

Or… get this. We are done with elderly white men.

— Graylin Fox Sjodin (@GraylinFox) August 1, 2019

And yet Biden remains the frontrunning in all the polls … most likely out of name recognition, not that he’s the “moderate” of the bunch. How much longer he can ride that name recognition — all the while distancing himself from the Obama administration on issues like deportation and health care — is yet to be seen.

Or maybe Stacey Abrams will just declare herself president.

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