Three elderly groups in the United States announced on Wednesday (June 12) their support for Democratic President Biden’s re-election campaign. Biden’s campaign team is working to expand his existing support among the elderly, and the endorsement from these groups may help offset the weakening support from other voter groups.
According to Reuters, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare (NCPSSM), which supported Biden in 2020 along with two other elderly groups – Social Security Works PAC and National United Committee to Protect Pensions (NUCPP) – stated that they will support Biden in the 2024 presidential election.
Prior to this, the Alliance for Retired Americans, with 4.4 million members, endorsed Biden in January of this year.
Max Richtman, the president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, stated that their support for Biden is due to his dedication to protecting the income welfare of the elderly.
Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Biden’s campaign manager, mentioned that these groups represent millions of elderly individuals who will organize and mobilize their peers before the November elections. She said, “With today’s endorsement, we will mobilize the elderly across the country stronger and more prepared than ever before to win the November election.”
Elderly Americans may play a crucial role in the election as their voter turnout is higher than any other group. In key battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, there are nearly 10 million elderly voters.
While the majority of elderly voters have traditionally supported the Republican Party, they are increasingly supporting the 81-year-old Biden now, which is good news for the Democratic candidate, especially considering his approval rating hit a near two-year low in May.
According to the 2020 U.S. Census data, there are nearly 56 million Americans aged 65 and over, accounting for slightly less than 17% of the total population. A NBC News poll in April indicated that Trump won the support of this age group by a 7-point margin in the 2016 election, but Biden narrowed the gap to 5 points in the 2020 election and is currently leading by a slim margin.