MSNBC
- Rep. Eric Swalwell took a shot at former Vice President Joe Biden‘s age during night two of the Democratic primary debate on Thursday.
- Swalwell, 38, said it was time for 76-year-old Biden to "pass the torch."
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Rep. Eric Swalwell of California was one of the first candidates to take a jab at former Vice President Joe Biden at night two of the first Democratic primary debate on Thursday night, insinuating that he’s too old to be president.
After being asked what he would do to address the issue of Americans losing jobs to automation, the 38-year-old politician laid out a plan of job creation before pivoting to his issue with Biden, 76, being in the race.
"I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans. That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden.
"Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago. He’s still right today. If we’re gonna solve the issues of automation, pass the torch. If we’re gonna solve the issues of climate chaos, pass the torch. If we’re gonna solve the issue of student loan debt, pass the torch. If we’re gonna end gun violence for families that are fearful of sending their kids to school pass the torch," Swalwell said.
Biden took the jab in stride, breaking out in a smile that caused the crowd to erupt into laughter.
When a moderator asked Biden if he "would like to pass the torch on," Biden replied "I would" — before adding that he’s "still holding on to that torch" for now.
If elected, Biden would be the oldest person to become president, breaking the record that was set by Ronald Reagan, who became president at the age of 73 in 1981.
- Read more:
- We tallied up all the votes the 2020 Democratic contenders have ever won on their own, and Joe Biden is near the bottom
- Democrats are pushing each other further left in the debates, but a few candidates want to slow it down
- Julián Castro earned rave reviews for his debate performance, but it was even better than it looked
- An obscure section of US law became a flashpoint in the Democratic debate and sparked a confrontation between Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke. Here’s why it’s so controversial.
NOW WATCH: Why the US border facilities are ‘concentration camps,’ according to historians
See Also:
- ‘That’s the end of that race!’ Trump blasted 2020 Democrats for supporting healthcare for undocumented immigrants
- Beto O’Rourke and Bernie Sanders visited a migrant child detention facility, prompting emotional, powerful scenes
- Eric Swalwell is running for president in 2020. Here’s everything we know about the candidate and how he stacks up against the competition.
Source: Business Insider – acollman@businessinsider.com (Ashley Collman)