The second hour of the debate began with conversation about age — and how much it matters.
“Senator Warren, you would be the oldest president ever inaugurated,” Alberta said. “I’d like you to weigh in on this as well.”
Warren had an answer at the ready.
“I’d also be the youngest woman ever inaugurated,” she said, grinning.
The crowd erupted in cheers. On Twitter, viewers and analysts commended what seemed, to all, to be the ultimate witty comeback.
“I’d also be the youngest woman ever inaugurated.”
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) December 20, 2019
.@ewarren turns age question and gets a huge ovation.
“I’d also be the youngest woman ever inaugurated.” - Elizabeth Warren with an amazingly witty comeback. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/I3YvmQiC4F
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) December 20, 2019
"I'd also be the youngest woman ever inaugurated."--@ewarren Now that's a good line. #DemocraticDebate
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) December 20, 2019
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who has endorsed Warren for President, tweeted Warren’s quote, with an attribution that suggests her words will go down in history.
“I’d also be the youngest woman ever elected President”😉
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) December 20, 2019
- Elizabeth Ann Warren, 9:18pm Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, December 19th, in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
Age has been a central issue in the 2020 campaign, as three septuagenarians have consistently led the polls. Of the three, Warren has received the least scrutiny for her age — likely both because she is considerably younger than Biden and Sanders, and because she, by many accounts, “looks young.”
She is known for running through crowds of supporters at campaign events and standing in “selfie lines” for hours. At a recent rally in Rock Hill, S.C., a local councilwoman, Nikita Jackson, commended Warren on her “energy” and “stamina.”
“I was just amazed that when you first came out here, Sen. Warren, that you ran up those steps the way that you did, and all this energy and stamina that you have,” she said.
It appears that’s the energy that Warren is bringing to the debate tonight.