Joe Biden gives a critical election-year State of the Union address tonight where voters will be closely watching to see if he can stumble through the speech without a mental slip or senior moment that could cripple his candidacy.
It’s a risky late-night moment for the 81-year-old Democratic president, but it also offers a chance to ease doubts in his own party that he’s up for the job.
Just pray that the Teleprompter doesn’t break down and Biden has enough energy to make it through an hour-long speech without faltering.
Biden lately has been using note cards to get through fundraisers and events like his visit to the border recently – something he won’t be able to do during the SOTU.
The president enters the SOTU with most voters believing he’s too old and more than six-in-10 voters doubting whether he’s mentally fit to be commander-in-chief.
That’s even higher than Republican Donald Trump gets on the same question of mental fitness.
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows just how deep the skepticism is over Biden’s mental abilities.
A stunning one-third of voters support removing Biden from the White House by invoking the 25th amendment, according to a Newsweek poll. The amendment allows the Cabinet and vice president to remove a president who is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”
So it’s not your usual run-of-the-mill, forgettable address.
Biden has to stick the landing this year and prove that he has the vitality and mental capacity to lead the nation.
Democrats can complain all they want about Trump slurring his speech or mixing up words but he’s not the one facing a skeptical nation and lawmakers in the House chamber.
It’s a true test for Biden and whether he passes or fails could help determine the outcome of the election.
Just 38% of Americans approve of Biden’s job performance, while 61% disapprove.
Biden is going to have to address one of his biggest weaknesses – the influx of migrants pouring into the country – in his speech.
Just 29% of adults approve of his immigration policies.
And 60% believe the economy is worse off now than when he took office – despite Democrats’ protests that Bidenomics is working.
White House officials brush off questions about Biden’s tendency lately to use note cards.
“You’re asking me a question about the president having note cards? A president who has had probably one of the most successful three years of administration than any modern-day president?” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. “He’s done more in three years than most presidents who have two terms. You’re asking me about note cards?”
