Poll: Most Republicans Would Prefer Younger President Than Trump
A YouGov survey released this week has found that 59% of Republican voters would be partial to a president under the age of 75, with only 2% expressing preference for someone older — such as the 78-year-old GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump....
Facts
- A YouGov survey released this week has found that 59% of Republican voters would be partial to a president under the age of 75, with only 2% expressing preference for someone older — such as the 78-year-old GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.[1]
- The poll — conducted online between July 25-29 — asked among 2,266 US adult citizens about the importance of multiple traits in a president, with leadership skills, decision-making, honesty, and mental health topping the list.[2][3]
- Age is considered a trait of medium-to-low importance, as just 21% found it very important. Among Democrats, 76% would prefer a president under 75 — including 54% partial to someone between 50 and 64, such as 59-year-old Kamala Harris.[3][4]
- This comes as a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between July 22-23 found that 53% of all respondents agreed that 'at 78 years old, Donald Trump is too old to work in government.'[5]
- Meanwhile, the latest The Economist/YouGov poll, conducted between July 27-30, indicates that Harris now has a lead within the margin of error over Trump, 46% to 44%, in the share of registered voters planning to vote for them.[6][7]
- This was the latest of three surveys released over the past days to show Harris ahead of Trump, but the former president still leads nationwide by 1.2 points in RealClearPolitics' (RCP) polling average. According to the 2024 RCP Electoral College No Toss Ups state map, Trump would surpass the 270 electoral votes needed for victory.[8][9][10]
Sources: [1]Washington Examiner, [2]The Hill, [3]YouGov, [4]Miami Herald, [5]Ipsos, [6]Yougov, [7]Daily Caller, [8]Forbes, [9]RealClearPolling (a) and [10]RealClearPolling (b).
Narratives
- Democratic narrative, as provided by National Review. Joe Biden was too old for another term, and so is Donald Trump. Americans know exactly that, and his age could cost his return to the White House as the Democratic campaign has now rejuvenated with Biden's withdrawal. If elected, Trump would become the oldest-ever inaugurated president — and his cognitive and physical decline are clear.
- Republican narrative, as provided by The New York Sun. This YouGov poll effectively reasserts that age has never been an issue for American voters, and that the problem with Biden is his incompetence. What's curious here is to notice that as soon as the three-years-older Biden quit the race, liberals who have long supported him and claimed he wasn't too old started pushing the narrative that Trump is too old.
- Republican narrative, as provided by FOX News. This YouGov poll effectively reasserts that age has never been an issue for American voters, and that the problem with Biden is his incompetence. What's curious here is to notice that as soon as the three-years-older Biden quit the race, liberals who have long supported him and claimed he wasn't too old started pushing the narrative that Trump is too old.
