In the run-up to the Republican primary in South Carolina on Feb. 24, Nikki Haley, currently vying for attention, is taking a comedic approach with a new series titled “Grumpy Old Men.” The campaign plans to roll out online videos, digital ads, and voter emails that highlight similarities between former President Donald J. Trump and President Biden, portraying them as reclusive spendthrifts marching toward an inevitable showdown.
The episodes, including titles like “Stumbling Seniors,” “Basement Buddies,” and “Profligate Pols,” take jabs at their signs of mental confusion, limited presence on the campaign trail, and economic policies leading to high inflation. This shift in strategy emerged after the Iowa caucuses, with Haley categorizing both Trump and Biden, aged 77 and 81 respectively, as representatives of a bygone political era at odds with the country’s current needs.
Despite her attempts to paint herself as a “new generational leader,” Haley faces challenges, particularly in a Republican base that is predominantly older, white, and Christian. Polls indicate a double-digit deficit to Trump in her home state, raising concerns about the effectiveness of attacks on Biden’s age, given their lack of success in the 2020 Democratic primary.
Haley, 52, who served as the United Nations ambassador under Trump, has advocated for mental competency tests for candidates aged 75 or older. While she has been more critical of Biden’s age, she recently ramped up critiques of Trump’s mental acuity, claiming his reaction to her momentum in New Hampshire was “totally unhinged.”
The campaign’s spokeswoman, Olivia Perez-Cubas, emphasized that the goal is to resonate with the nearly 50 percent of Republicans and 70 percent of Americans who don’t want to witness “grumpy old men stumble across America” in a time of global challenges. However, the reference to a 1993 movie might be a risky bet, considering the graying demographic of the Republican base.
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