Biden campaign launches ad touting president’s age as an asset

President Biden’s campaign released an ad Saturday that will air in major battleground states connecting the president’s age with his ability to get things done during his first term, seeking to draw a contrast with former President Trump’s record.

“Look, I’m not a young guy. That’s no secret,” Biden says in the new ad, titled “For You.” “But here’s the deal, I understand how to get things done for the American people.”

Biden narrates the 60-second spot, highlighting his navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic upon taking office, the strength of the U.S. economy, legislation to lower prescription drug prices, the passage of a bipartisan infrastructure law and his commitment to protect reproductive health care after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade — which ended the federal right to abortion access.

“Donald Trump believes the job of a president is to take care of Donald Trump,” Biden says in the ad. “I believe the job of a president is to fight for you, the American people, and that’s what I’m doing.”

In an outtake at the end of the ad, Biden says, “Look, I’m very young, energetic and handsome, what the hell am I doing this for?”

The ad is part of a six-week, $30 million ad campaign targeting voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina, all of which are expected to be battleground states in November.

The spot will air on national cable and local broadcast and cable, and will appear on ESPN, TNT, FX and Comedy Central, as well as during the upcoming NCAA Tournament, the campaign said.

The ad tackles the question of the incumbent’s age, which polling has consistently shown is a concern for many voters as Biden, who is 81, seeks a second term. He is on track to face Trump, who is 77, in a rematch of the 2020 election.

A New York Times/Siena College poll released last weekend found 73 percent of registered voters said they either strongly or somewhat agree that Biden is too old to be an effective president.

Biden has repeatedly joked about his age, but he and his aides have argued voters should judge him on his record of accomplishments.

“Now, Joe Biden is 81 and he’s going to beat Donald Trump again because he wakes up every single day fighting for the American people while Trump wages a campaign of revenge and retribution focused on himself,” Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement.

“Trump may be four years younger than Joe Biden, but his ideas are old as hell and they’ve already been rejected by the American people,” Tyler added. “Joe Biden is running to make sure we reject them for good.”