Kamala Harris turns 60 today on the campaign trail.
The vice president has made age an issue in the election, declaring herself a “new generation” ready to replace Joe Biden, 81, and criticizing Donald Trump, 78, calling him too old for the White House.
Since the beginning of her campaign, Harris has marketed herself to younger voters by appealing to millennials and Generation Z.
Gaining points with those audiences after taking the Democratic mantle from Biden earlier this summer, Harris and her team immediately gravitated toward Charlie XCX’s new album, ‘Brat,’ and the viral Gen Z attention it was receiving. .
Her campaign has also prioritized giving Harris time with influencers and TikTokers, particularly at the Democratic National Convention, where some social media stars became pseudoreporters.
But whether Harris’s kowtowing to younger voters helps the sixty-year-old defeat septuagenarian Trump remains to be seen.
Vice President Kamala Harris turns 60 on Sunday
Harris’ age barely makes her a “baby boomer,” the generation born between 1946 and 1964.
The vice president, who is about 18 years younger than her competitor, has increasingly pointed to age as a factor in the 2024 election.
A recent report suggested that the former president is “exhausted” as a result of his constant campaigning. It was cited as one of the reasons he canceled several interviews recently. The Trump campaign fiercely denied the report.
But Harris used those reports as a cudgel against Trump on Friday, suggesting he is too tired for the rigors of the job.
“I’ve been hearing reports that (at least his team says that) he’s been suffering from burnout,” he told reporters after a campaign event in Michigan.
And apparently that’s the excuse why he doesn’t give interviews. And, of course, he won’t be attending the CNN town hall. He refuses to have another debate. And, you know, look, being president of the United States is probably one of the hardest jobs in the world.
Former President Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, arrives at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Detroit.
Reports have circulated that Trump is “exhausted” as a result of his constant campaigning.
“And so we really need to ask ourselves if you’re exhausted from being on the campaign trail, are you fit to do the job?” Harris questioned.
Trump responded by saying: She’s a loser. She doesn’t go to any events.
‘I haven’t rested for 48 days now. And I have that loser, who doesn’t have the energy of a rabbit.
‘Tell me when you’ve seen me rest even a little. Not only am I not, I’m not even tired. I’m really excited.’
A year ago, Harris was singing a quite different tune about presidential candidates and their age.
When Biden was still expected to be the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris said age is more than just a number.
“I would say that age is more than a chronological fact,” Harris said then.
“I spend a lot of time with our president, whether in the Oval Office or in the Situation Room and elsewhere.”
Harris rarely spoke negatively about age when it came to Biden, 81, while he was running.
“Not only does he have absolute authority in rooms around the world, but in the Oval Office, meeting with members of Congress, with industry leaders, with community leaders, I will tell you that he is often in front of everyone in the room in terms of thinking about how we can solve problems.
Biden, the oldest president in US history, dropped out of the presidential race eight months later.
Presidential elections are a major endurance test for any candidate, but the 2024 race has been unusually focused on age.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage to speak at a campaign event on October 18, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Harris is unlikely to take time off the campaign trail for her birthday.
Earlier this week, he stepped up his attacks on Trump’s age.
She said: “Donald Trump is increasingly unstable.”
Trump recently said, “She’s younger.” I mean, he’s 60 years old… I didn’t realize he was 60. I thought he was a little younger. But she is 60 years old.
Harris recently released a medical report describing her as “in excellent health and fit for the presidency, with the only minor health issues of note being seasonal allergies and hives.”
Polls suggest age is an important issue for Harris.
Pew Research Center polls showed the percentage of people calling Trump “mentally acute” fell from 58 percent in July to 52 percent in September.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Riverside Park, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
And while 49 percent of voters said Trump’s age would hurt his candidacy, 46 percent of voters said Harris’ age would help theirs.
Harris has strong support among younger voters.
But older voters are leaning toward Trump.
In a recent CBS poll, voters ages 45 to 64 side with Trump over Harris 53 percent to 46, while among voters ages 65 and older that share rises to 57 percent. compared to 42 percent.