Pennsylvania Democrat says having all-octogenarian House leadership has put him at ease about the president running in 2024: 'To me, Joe Biden is young'

US President Joe Biden takes a selfie with supporters after speaking at a Democratic National Committee event at the headquarters of the National Education Association on September 23, 2022 in Washington, DC.

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• Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle said he's fine with having an 80-plus year old Biden running in 2024.
• "I serve in Congress. To me, Joe Biden is young," Boyle said, referring to aging House leaders.
• House Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, and Jim Clyburn are all in their early 80s.

Rep. Brendan Boyle said watching the House Democratic leadership's reigning octogenarians work the levers of power in Washington is proof enough for him that President Joe Biden is fit to run for reelection in 2024. 

"I serve in Congress. To me, Joe Biden is young," the 45-year-old Pennsylvania Democrat told CNN, gesturing towards the House chamber run by 82-year-old Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 83-year-old House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and 82-year-old Majority Whip Jim Clyburn. 

Boyle added that he puts no stock in attacks against Biden's cognitive or physical health because he believes "the age thing is a convenient place to go" for critics who'd rather see Biden, who's 79, fade away for other reasons. 

The vote of confidence clashes with responses gathered in a recent poll conducted as part of Insider's "Red, White, and Gray" project, which explores the costs, benefits, and dangers of life in a democracy helmed by those of advanced age. A majority of respondents said they considered Biden and presumptive 2024 Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, who is 76, to be too old to serve again.  

Biden, who has already spent more than half of his life in public office, has repeatedly said that he'll run again. 

That sounds good to Boyle, who told CNN that having an 80-plus year old Biden at the top of the next presidential ticket would be something special. "It will be unique to have someone that age running for president," Boyle said. 

Boyle's enthusiastic endorsement isn't totally surprising, given that Biden stumped alongside him just days before the 2020 election.

—US Rep Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) November 1, 2020

 

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