Will John McCain’s age be an issue in this upcoming 2008 campaign? Well, listen to John McCain himself back in 2000. Even he admitted back then that he’d be pretty old to run for President. The video is from an interview on PBS in 2000. Video is here .The transcription is below:

JIM LEHRER: Finally for the record, you have not lost your desire to be President of the United States have you?

McCAIN: Certainly it’s been put in deep cold storage. (Laughter)

LEHRER: You haven’t lost it?

McCAIN: Well, in 2004, I expect to be campaigning for the reelection of President George W. Bush, and by 2008, I think I might be ready to go down to the old soldiers home and await the cavalry charge there.

Obviously, he’s had a change of mind. Look, his health records check out just fine. This summer he’s going to hike the Grand Canyon with some family members. You think the McCain camp is ready for that photo-op? Forget the Straight Talk Express Bus. Get ready for the Straight Talk Express Hike! I can see it now: the traveling press corps trying to keep up with John McCain.

I don’t think age is going to be a factor in the race. I think the concern for the McCain camp is the bad visuals. During the presidential debates, it’s going to be a 46 year old, young, attractive, articulate candidate talking about hope and change vs. a much older looking establishment candidate. That’s the danger for McCain. What the campaign needs to do is get the focus off the fluff and appearance and get Obama down in the weeds on substance. That’s where they think they have a big advantage. The McCain campaign can then try and turn the age issue into a plus by pivoting to talk about his experience and judgment and Obama’s lack of it.

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