Kamala Harris defends Biden’s intelligence when pressed on mental sharpness: ‘He is extraordinarily smart’

Vice President Kamala Harris called President Biden "extraordinarily smart" on Monday amid concerns from voters about the commander-in-Chief's age heading into the 2024 election.

Biden, who would be 86 years old at the end of a second term, is the oldest president to grace the Oval Office. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found that only 28% of those surveyed believe Biden has the mental sharpness to complete another four years. This number is down dramatically from May 2020, when 50% of surveyed Americans had faith in Biden's ability to lead.

During an interview with ABC News, the network's Chief White House Correspondent, Mary Bruce, pressed Harris on the Biden campaign's plans to change public perception regarding Biden's age.

"I'll tell you, the reality of it is, and I've spent a lot of time with Biden, be it in the Oval Office, in the Situation Room and other places – he is extraordinarily smart. He has the ability to see around the corner in terms of what might be the challenges we face as a nation or globally," Harris told the reporter.

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Vice President Kamala Harris defended President Biden when pressed on voters' concerns regarding his age. He is "extraordinarily smart," she said.   (ABC News/Screenshot)

"Well, I mean, listen, you're here with me in South Carolina. You saw every room we went in. The numbers of people who are there, applauding quite loudly, and they're applauding for me and they're applauding for Joe Biden and for what we as an administration have accomplished," she added. "They're there because they believe in what we're doing and they want to see us continue to do this work."

First Lady Jill Biden also defended Biden from questions surrounding his health last week, claiming his age is an "asset."

Speaking with MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski, the first lady was asked about her husband's age and health with "everything on the line."

"This is a massive amount of physical and emotional stress. It would be on any person. Your husband is 81. At the end of a second term, he'd be 86. As his life partner of 46 years, is there a part of you that is worried about his age and health? Can he do it?" Brzezinski asked.

"He can do it," Biden replied.

"I see Joe every day. I see him out, you know, traveling around this country. I see his vigor. I see his energy. I see his passion every single day," she added. 

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Dr. Jill Biden joined MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski for an interview, where she was asked about the president's age.  (Screenshot/MSNBC)

Brzezinski also asked the first lady what she would say to people who don't want to vote for President Biden because he's "too old."

"His age is an asset," she said as Brzezinski chuckled and added, "He's wise."

"He's wise. He has wisdom. He has experience. He knows every leader on the world stage. He's lived history. He knows history. He's thoughtful in his decisions. He is the right man, the right person for the job at this moment in history," Biden said. 

A Monmouth University poll released in October found 76% of voters agreed Biden was "too old" to serve another term, compared to just 48% who said the same about former President Donald Trump, 77, despite the difference in their ages being just three and a half years.

Another poll from October by The New York Times/Siena College revealed that 71% of respondents believe Biden is "too old" to serve as an effective president.

Among Biden's own supporters, 54% still say he is too old for the job.

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Fox News' Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.