Changing Aging

We’re going to have “a first” in this country no matter who is elected President in November.

But will age be a stumbling block for voters?  It is for some, such as tough guy actor Chuck Norris (and Huckabee surrogate) who thinks John McCain is too old to be President, and said so in a number of recent media interviews.

If McCain, 71, is elected, he will be the oldest President ever elected.  He would be 72 at his inauguration and 80 years after two terms in office.   Last year when we did our Age Wave Study, we asked baby boomers in Minnesota if a candidate for Governor were over age 70 would that be a negative factor in how they cast their vote.  Here are the percentages:

- 42% said it wouldn’t be a factor.

-37% said it would be a negative factor.

- 17% said it would be a positive factor.

- And 4% didn’t know.

One thing is for sure, no matter who you are going to vote for in November, they have one thing in common:  They are aging.