President Joe Biden’s campaign is ramping up efforts to reach out to senior citizens in a bid to sway a voting bloc that typically leans Republican. These outreach initiatives include bingo games coordinated by volunteers in swing states and airing advertisements during programs popular among older viewers like the Price is Right.
While voters aged 65 and above have historically supported Republicans in recent election cycles, former President Donald Trump saw a decline in support from this demographic between 2016 and 2020. A recent poll suggests that Biden, who is 81 years old compared to Trump’s 77, is currently leading among older voters with 51% support compared to Trump’s 42%.
Seniors aged 65 and above made up 30.4% of the electorate in 2022 and are known for their high voter turnout rates. Biden’s pollster, Celinda Lake, referred to this shift in senior voter preferences as a significant turning point, attributing it to Democrats traditionally performing better with younger voters and struggling with seniors in the past.
This shift in voter preferences may be influenced by Trump’s inconsistent messaging on issues like Social Security and Medicare, programs highly valued by senior voters. Polls conducted in swing states showed that voters favored Biden over Trump for the preservation of these programs.
Florida, a crucial swing state known for its sizable senior population, could play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the election, particularly if older voters in the state lean towards Biden. Despite Trump holding a narrow lead over Biden in national polling, his margin has been steadily decreasing in recent weeks.
