McCain backers combat age as issue

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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.