Yesterday was a major moment in the Presidential campaign of 2020, with Joe Biden confronting an Iowa voter who challenged his age and his son, Hunter Biden.
Biden answered in a very appropriate manner, and gave this blogger renewed confidence in his candidacy, after many doubts earlier.
Biden has gone through the worst tragedy anyone could experience, the loss of a son, Beau Biden, which clearly put him into a period of depression, and Biden has known what tragedy is, with the loss in 1972 of his first wife and their daughter in an auto accident, in which both Biden sons, Beau and Hunter, were seriously injured.
Joe has been a survivor, but has also shown his humanity and compassion as a result of these tragedies in his life, including his aneurysm that nearly killed him in 1988, requiring brain surgery.
One could wish that Joe was younger, but in comparison to Bernie Sanders and Michael Bloomberg, both around the same age, with Bernie 14 months older and Bloomberg nine months older, this author would still prefer Joe in the White House.
Joe needs not to defend his son Hunter, as when one looks at the careers of Donald Trump’s sons and daughter, and how they have used their father’s name and reputation to benefit themselves, there is no need for Joe to defend his son.
As far as the concern with Joe’s age, as with the other two future octogenarians, it would still be preferable to have a younger nominee, such as Pete Buttigieg, but at this point, while this author likes Pete, it will ultimately be up to the voters in the next few months as to whether youth is preferred over age and experience.
Any concerns about Joe’s ability to perform against Trump now seems laid to rest after the way he handled this Iowa voter.
And as far as what if something happens to Joe in the White House, it could not be worse than with Donald Trump, and the same basic concern is there for Sanders, who suffered a mild heart attack, and Bloomberg, as no one can guarantee health.
That makes, however, the smart choice of a Vice President ever more urgent, no matter who the Democratic nominee is in 2020!