NEWS AND OPINION:

The New York Times editorial board launched a telling message for President Biden and maybe the nation. It is titled “Biden should take voters’ concerns about age seriously.”

The candid piece from the information group’s editorial board was illustrated with a silhouette of flier sun shades — a favourite accent of the forty sixth president. Here’s a brief excerpt:

“Mr. Biden acknowledged during the lead-up to the 2020 campaign that he was ‘chronologically’ old but said it was up to voters to decide whether that was important. In that election, against an opponent who was only four years younger, the answer was clearly no. In November 2021, he released a medical report that said he was a “healthy, vigorous 78-year-old’ and noted nothing more serious than a stiffened gait due to spinal changes and some acid reflux that caused him to cough,” the editorialists wrote.

“His most recent health summary, released on Feb. 16, said much the same thing, describing him as a ‘healthy, vigorous 80-year-old male who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency.’ But his cognitive abilities went unmentioned. That’s something he should discuss publicly and also demonstrate to the voters, who expect the president to reflect the nation’s strength,” the editorial continued.

“If he runs again, Mr. Biden will need to provide explicit reassurance to voters; many of them have seen family members decline rapidly in their 80s. Americans are watching what Mr. Biden says and does, just as he has asked them to do,” it concluded.

The editorial was launched Saturday amid information reviews that Mr. Biden may reveal his political plans as early as Tuesday. And for individuals who marvel, the president turns 81 on Nov. 20. See some pertinent numbers about all this within the Poll du Jour at column’s finish.

A TELLING PENCE MOMENT

A dialog between former Vice President Mike Pence and CBS News chief election and marketing campaign correspondent Robert Costa happened not lengthy after Mr. Pence appeared on the influential Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Victory Spring Kick-Off” within the metropolis of Clive.

“It’s almost May. When are you going to decide on whether you are running for the Republican nomination?” Mr. Costa requested in the course of the dialog, which aired on “Face the Nation,” the community Sunday morning political discuss present.

“We’re getting awfully close. But I don’t have anything to announce today, Robert,” Mr. Pence replied.

Mr. Costa requested whether or not that weighty, “hard decision” to run for the White House can be made in late June.

“If we have an announcement to make, it’ll be well before late June,” Mr. Pence replied.

“But are you leaning in or are you leaning away from running?” the CBS correspondent requested.

“Well, I’m here in Iowa, Robert,” his visitor mentioned.        

“That’s a tell,” Mr. Costa mentioned.

“Look, I love this country. And I think America is in a lot of trouble. And what I hear people telling me is that the challenges that we’re facing in an increasingly dangerous world, the challenge that we’re facing in this economy with inflation at a 40-year high, a crisis at our border, are going to require someone who has the ability to step in on day one, and set our country back on a path towards security and prosperity. And so we’re thinking very deeply about that,” Mr. Pence replied.

THE ULTERIOR MOTIVE

Is there a political angle at work when the information media publishes categorized data that has been leaked? Most voters imagine that's the case in accordance with a well timed new Rasmussen Reports survey.

It discovered that 54% of probably U.S. voters agree “most media outlets that publish classified information are doing it for political reasons,” the pollster mentioned in a short evaluation of its findings, which didn't delve into particular political causes. 

Another 37% say the media publish categorized leaks “because they believe in the public’s right to know these things.”

The survey of 963 probably U.S. voters was carried out on April 12-13 and 16.

MEANWHILE IN FLORIDA

The press carefully follows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, parsing out the likelihood he may run for president in 2024 — and weighing in on the prospect that Mr. DeSantis now not helps former President Donald Trump’s bid for reelection when the time comes.

What about lawmakers within the Sunshine State? They seem extra receptive to the forty fifth president’s efforts to return to the White House.

“Representative Carlos Gimenez on Friday became the eleventh member of Congress from Florida to endorse former president Donald Trump in the 2024 race,” famous National Review in a report on Friday.

“Gimenez joins the majority of Florida’s 20 Republican members of Congress in snubbing Florida governor Ron DeSantis in favor of the former president. Other members who have endorsed Trump include Representatives Matt Gaetz, Brian Mast, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills, Greg Steube, Byron Donalds, Vern Buchanan, Gus Bilirakis, Michael Waltz, and John Rutherford,” the report mentioned.

There’s a bit socializing happening as effectively. The eleven lawmakers additionally joined Mr. Trump for dinner at his dwelling base of Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, in accordance with National Review.

POLL DU JOUR

• 70% of U.S. adults don't suppose President Biden ought to run for a second time period within the White House.

• 48% of this group say Mr. Biden‘s age is a “major reason” which drives their opinion.

• 21% of them say age is a “minor reason.”

• 29% say age will not be a purpose behind their opinion.

• 2% will not be certain concerning the difficulty.

SOURCE: An NBC News ballot of 1,000 registered U.S. voters carried out April 14-18.

• Follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com