McCain backers combat age as issue

Not all candidates can be as smooth as Ronald Reagan, who addressed detractors of his age head-on in a memorable debate moment in 1984.

“I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue in this campaign,” Mr. Reagan said. “I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

At 71, presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain could consider borrowing such a line in the general election this fall.

Even before Democrats have a candidate, the drumbeat of “too old to lead” is being felt from party leaders reminding voters that Mr. McCain, if elected, would be the oldest person to take office, at 72.

First, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean suggested in a sideways shot that undecided voters were bringing up Mr. McCain’s age without prompting. Then it became a public pile-on as Rep. John P. Murtha, himself 75, used the age card to denounce Mr. McCain’s fitness to lead.

“This one guy running is about as old as me,” said Mr. Murtha, Pennsylvania Democrat. “It’s no old man’s job.”

While Democratic contender Sen. Barack Obama has said publicly he doesn’t think age is a problem, and 60-year-old Hillary Clinton is easily old enough to join AARP, Mr. Murtha’s comment drew fire from one national seniors advocacy group, who called on him to apologize.

“What rock has Murtha been sleeping under?” asked Jim Martin, the founder and head of the 60-Plus Association, whose spokesman is none other than the 73-year-old Pat Boone.

“Doesn’t he know that here in the 21st century, 70 is today’s 50 or even 40?” Mr. Martin asked. “Ageism is one of the last remaining prejudices that parades openly in our society.”

Mr. Martin, who at 72 swims a mile daily and plays in three basketball leagues, points to world leaders who have made their mark well into their senior years, including France’s Charles de Gaulle, Britain’s Winston Churchill and West Germany’s Konrad Adenauer. Those three men left office at 78, 80 and 87, respectively, and all of them did so decades ago.

He also points out that third in the current succession line for the U.S. presidency is West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd, 90, followed by Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who continues a long and productive Senate career at 76. He adds that Pope Benedict XVI celebratred his 81st birthday at the White House last week, appearing confident and rested as he conducted two stadium Masses with a combined audience of more than 100,000.

“I just saw and spoke with John McCain last week and frankly, physically and mentally, he’s on top of his game,” says Mr. Martin, a former Marine who once hired a young George W. Bush to work on a Senate campaign. “He looks tough as nails, and he is. I think they are going to have a helluva time trying to say he’s too old. He’s sharp.”

Indeed, Mr. McCain emerged from the brutal presidential primary cycle thinner and looking no worse forwear, having come from behind in New Hampshire and broke away from the pack to lead his party in what many saw as an unexpected victory.

All of this after having survived repeated bouts of skin cancer during his 21 years in the Senate, as well as 5½ years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, where he was tortured.

Testament to his longevity on the campaign trail is his own mother, Roberta McCain, now 96 and still outspoken and feisty in the Barbara Bush vein.

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