President Joe Biden, 81, delivered another gaffe on the campaign trail in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, on Friday, telling a store clerk that he was still a U.S. senator.
The gaffe highlights Biden’s mental state, as his aides seek to shed his octegenarian demeanor heading into the 2024 election.
“My name is Joe Biden, and I work for the governor and the senator,” Biden said in Nowhere Coffee Co. alongside Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA).
As he left the coffee shop, Biden remembered his birthplace 90 minutes away. “By the way, we’re almost in heaven, we’re almost in Scranton,” he said.
The campaign stop was the first instance of a dramatic tactical shift to overcome Biden’s age, one of the greatest issues for voters.
Aides in recent months pleaded with Biden to make a “series of subtle shifts” to show “he still has the vigor to serve another term,” multiple people familiar with the conversations told NBC News on Friday. The shift in tactics reportedly includes speaking informally, unannounced campaign stops, more social media posts, and fewer neckties.
It is unclear if Biden’s strategy will convince voters of his mental vigor. When Biden delivers speeches, he often mumbles. When he finishes remarks, he often appears to waddle off stage. Cameras catch the imagery. It goes viral on social media.
Oftentimes, Biden finds it difficult to stay upright. He tripped, tumbled, and stumbled at least five times in public view in 2023.
Polling shows Americans question Biden’s physical and mental abilities:
- A majority of Democrats are “concerned” about Biden’s abilities
- 55 percent say Biden’s health and age “severely” limit his ability to do the job.
- Registered voters have “major” concern about Biden’s age and health.
Wendell Husebo is a political reporter with Breitbart News and a former GOP War Room Analyst. He is the author of Politics of Slave Morality. Follow Wendell on “X” @WendellHusebø or on Truth Social @WendellHusebo.
