Septuagenarian Republicans

MANIFESTO

Is it too early to start comparing the upcoming presidential election with the 1996 exercise? In both we've got an aging Republican (one 73, the other 71) running against a virile Democrat—in 1996, the Democrat being virile to a fault. Both Republicans might be looked upon as sacrificial lambs as they're rewarded for being good and faithful servants; in both instances, they're veterans who had horrendous war experiences; and in both instances, age is an issue in the campaign.

Robert Dole, the Republicans' candidate in 1996, tried to prove that he was fit for the job—going so far as to be photographed on a treadmill in a terribly geeky pose. (Only turtlehead Michael Dukakis ever looked stupider.) And Saturday evening, this decade's septuagenarian candidate tried to deflect the issue by making fun of it. He didn't succeed.

The proof, of course, will come in the election itself. In 1996, the Democrat routed the Republican, 379-159 electoral votes.