Garnering voter support from seniors is President Joe Biden’s newest focus to win the election this November.
Standing in front of a “Seniors for Biden-Harris" sign, first lady Jill Biden tackled concerns about her husband’s age and access to health care in a packed room of over 250 Arizona seniors in Phoenix on Saturday at Devonshire Senior Center to launch the Biden campaign's national Seniors for Biden-Harris initiative.
"This election certainly isn't about age. Joe and the other guy are essentially the same age, so let's not be fooled," she said. "But one thing this election is about is the character of the person leading our country."
Joe Biden, who is 81, has faced pushback for his age from Republicans and his opponent, former President Donald Trump, who turned 78 on Friday.
"Joe Biden is a healthy, wise 81-year-old ready and willing to work for you every day to make our future better," Jill Biden said during her remarks that lasted a little over 15 minutes.
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Biden knows how to work with people who disagree with him because he's been working for Americans for decades, Jill Biden said.
The Biden campaign held two "Bingo for Biden" events with seniors this week in Phoenix and Tucson.
Jill Biden nodded to her role as a grandma, saying she doesn't want the structures seniors have to be removed if Trump is elected.
"This nana is so proud to stand here with you to get to work to reelect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris," she said.
DeAnna Mireau, 73, from Phoenix, ran the “Bingo for Biden” event on Thursday. She said it was a good way to attract votes from Arizona seniors.
“I live in a senior mobile home park surrounded by people in their 70s, 80s and 90s, and we are a very high-functioning group,” Mireau said. “I truly believe that Joe Biden is very much a part of that.”
Arizona is a 2024 battleground state that Biden narrowly carried over Trump in the 2020 election. Trump won the state over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Jill Biden was in Arizona last monthas the commencement speaker at Mesa Community College's graduation ceremony.Before that, she emphasized abortion access at a March appearance in Tucson thatwas interrupted by protesterswho objected to Joe Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas war.
Senior voters weigh in on Joe Biden’s age
Senior voters at the event on Saturday pushed back on many Republicans’ focus on the president’s age.
Sharon Gowin, 82, from west Phoenix, said at her age, she’s smart enough to make decisions, and Joe Biden is too.
"I think the Republican Party is just trying to build it up,” Gowin said.
David Pearsall, 74, of Phoenix, said Biden is going to make sure the country continues in a positive path “rather than a dictatorship."
“Seniors should be really concerned about this election because his opponent and the Republican Party have their sights set on Medicare and Social Security changes that are going to directly affect the senior population,” Pearsall said.
Dora Vasquez, executive director of the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, spoke to the packed room of seniors and said she’s deeply concerned about policies like the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare and Social Security dwindling if Trump was elected.
“I’ve got a message for Donald Trump,” she said. "Hands off our retirement security.”
Jonica Griffith, 70, of north Phoenix, said she directly benefits from Medicare’s lower prices on her medication. Griffith said she uses three inhalers that cost as high as $157 and $97.
Griffith said she would do anything to make sure Joe Biden wins. The president has made it a priority during his four years in office to lower drug prices and enact laws for Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
“I'm worried about what the outcome would be if the other guy wins,” she said. “I think my life would change dramatically. They don't care anything about me or my people.”
Republicans respond to Jill Biden's visit
Halee Dobbins, the Republic National Committee'sArizona communications director, said seniors deserve better solutions to problems Biden created during his presidency.
"Jill Biden’s visit to Phoenix comes as senior citizens are dealing with skyrocketing prices,shrinkingtheir hard-earned dollars.Arizona voterswillnot overlook the harsh realitiestheyfaceunderfailed Joe Biden.Our seniors deserve solutions to the problems Bidenomics has created," Dobbins said in a statement.
Citizens for Free Enterprise, led by former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, echoed the RNC.
Jesse Hunt, senior communications adviser for Citizens for Free Enterprise, said Jill Biden's visit to Phoenix is to "parrot President Biden's favorite line: 'Bidenomics is working!'"
"No one is buying what President Biden is selling," Hunt said. "Seniors on fixed incomes have watched in dismay as they get crushed by inflation, forcing them to make difficult choices in what should be the golden years of life. Bidenomics has been a disaster for America's seniors — no one can afford four more years of it."
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