In response to the explosive claims made by special counsel Robert Hur that President Joe Biden couldn't remember major milestones in his life, Democratic allies of the 81-year-old president have launched an aggressive defense. They aim to diminish the significance of the prosecutor's allegations, emphasizing that Biden is not too forgetful to be charged for mishandling classified material.

President Biden wasted no time in dismissing the conclusions of Hur's report and asserting that he had not forgotten the year his son Beau died, as claimed by the special counsel. Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill and across the country quickly followed suit, with Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii remarking that Republicans calling Biden old is "all they've got."

To counter the concerns about Biden's age and readiness to serve as commander in chief, Democrats plan to affirm his capability and credibility while discrediting those who portray him as enfeebled. Their strategy involves drawing a stark contrast to former President Donald Trump, the heavy Republican front-runner, who is also in his 70s and has faced confusion over names and facts.

The support for Biden is essential as he gears up for a potentially tight election against Trump. Even before the release of the special counsel's report, there were growing concerns that the coalition that helped elect Biden in 2020 was beginning to fray. Thus, it becomes increasingly important for Biden to maintain the loyalty of his supporters.

The Biden campaign circulated talking points to its allies, referring to Hur as a "MAGA-appointed attorney who doesn't have a case so he decided to lob personal attacks against the president." The talking points also highlighted that Hur is a lawyer and not a doctor, urging people to disregard his political opinions and focus on his legal conclusions.

The White House pointed out that Biden cooperated with Hur throughout the investigation, and ultimately, the special counsel declined to charge him with unlawfully retaining classified documents. In contrast, Trump currently faces an indictment in Florida following the FBI's seizure of records from his Mar-a-Lago residence.

Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her indignation regarding the characterization of Biden's demeanor in the report, labeling it as fundamentally incorrect, politically motivated, and gratuitous. She stressed the need for a higher level of integrity from a prosecutor in such situations.

The response from South Carolina, where Biden had a commanding victory in the first-in-the-nation Democratic primary, has been largely positive. Some residents viewed Biden's forceful reaction to the special counsel's allegations as a promising sign of his resilience and determination.

Biden's aides have made it clear that they do not anticipate the president or his campaign to directly address the age question. They emphasize that they cannot change Biden's age and note that attacks on his age were persistent even four years ago, when Trump famously dubbed him "Sleepy Joe." Instead, they intend to focus on the blueprint of the 2020 campaign, highlighting Biden's accomplishments and the ongoing strength of the economy.

As the 2024 election approaches, the defense of President Biden against allegations of forgetfulness and the portrayal of his age as a liability takes center stage. Democrats are determined to showcase his competence while drawing a sharp contrast to the tumultuous tenure of his predecessor.