CBS News poll: Gender gap, enthusiasm, economy make for tight Harris-Trump race on Democratic convention eve
CBSAug 19
US Election: Presidential Age, Race and Gender
Above: Donald Trump shakes hands with Barack Obama and Joe Biden after being sworn in as President on January 20, 2017. Image copyright: Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
OVERVIEW: The dynamics of age, race, and gender have been prominent issues during the 2024 US presidential election, with data from Google showing a significant number of searches concerning the current candidates' characteristics at this stage of the electoral process than were seen within the last four election cycles.
AGE: In order to run for election, presidential candidates must be at least 35 years old, while candidates for the Senate and House must be a minimum of 30 and 25, respectively. At 78 years old, Joe Biden became the oldest president at the time of his inauguration, surpassing his predecessor, Donald Trump, who was inaugurated at age 70. The median age of all US presidents at the first inauguration is 55.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Electing Harris would be another positive step forward in healing tensions over race and gender in America. Trump has proven he's a leader who attacks women and makes racially loaded barbs. America must reject Trump's bigoted rhetoric and elect a candidate capable of uniting the country — leaving the politics of division behind.
Republican narrative
The liberal elite's hyper-fixation on identity politics has exacerbated division and hatred in America. A strange obsession with grouping individuals by their physical characteristics betrays the very melting pot ideals America was founded on. Trump is the only candidate truly in favor of a meritocracy and uniting the nation.