Press: Republicans’ dilemma: Biden keeps thriving despite his age

The closer we get to 2024, the harder it is for Republicans to make the case for why they should regain political power. One by one, all the arguments they planned to run on have run out of gas. 

They certainly can’t run on former President Trump. In fact, most Republican candidates want to talk about anything but Donald Trump, and understandably so. They can’t make a poster boy for good government out of a twice-impeached former president who’ll be spending much of his time in a courtroom fighting 91 criminal counts. 

Republicans planned to ignore Trump and focus on the economy. But they can’t really do that, either, because it’s too strong. Consumer spending is up, gas prices are down. The unemployment rate, which was 6.3 percent when Biden took office, is now 3.8 percent. The core inflation rate has fallen to its lowest level in two years. According to the Department of Labor, 12.1 million new jobs were created in Biden’s first two years — more than any other president achieved in four years. 

The stock market, which soured in 2022, has recovered. According to FactCheck.Org, as of July 2023, the S&P 500 had increased 20.2 percent under Biden, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 14.8 percent — a lot of that growth generated by Biden-sponsored legislation.   

As of July 2023, under provisions of the CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act, American companies have invested $614 billion in manufacturing semiconductors, electric vehicles and new batteries and other clean energy projects. As of September 2023, the bipartisan Infrastructure Act of 2021 has unleashed $280 billion in construction projects in all 50 states — rebuilding broken-down roads, bridges and water treatment plants, which Republican members are glad to show up and take credit for, even if they voted against the bill. 

If Republicans can’t run against Biden for a broken economy, they can always fall back on their old favorite issue: immigration. But that’s murky, too. The border remains a serious problem, but Democrats can point out that not only did Donald Trump not build his famous wall, he didn’t stop the flow of illegal immigration, either. According to PolitiFact, there were 5.4 million border apprehensions under Presidents Obama and Trump. As of June 2023 (the last numbers available), there had been 5.1 million under Biden. Border crossers have outwitted every president. 

And, given an embarrassing three weeks of total chaos in the House of Representatives so far, Republicans clearly can’t claim they’re the party that knows how to govern. So, unable to run against Biden on Donald Trump, the economy, immigration or good governance, what’s the only argument Republicans have left? Biden’s too old! 

The problem is, Biden’s not cooperating. Track his actions in recent months. In February, Biden made a dangerous mission to Kiev, the first president to visit a combat zone not controlled by the U.S. military. In September, he joined striking members of the United Auto Workers union in Detroit, becoming the first president ever to walk a picket line. Last week, Biden made his second visit to a war zone, flying to Tel Aviv to demonstrate America’s support for Israel against Hamas. In between, he maintains a breakneck round of meetings and presidential appearances around the country, on the road at least once a week. 

That may be the only argument they have left, but, given his schedule, Republicans can’t really make the case that Biden’s too old for the job. He is 80, but he governs like a man half his age. It almost makes you feel sorry for Republicans. Why won’t Biden act his age? 

Press hosts “The Bill Press Pod.” He is the author of “From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire.”