US presidential candidate Kamala Harris turns 60 amid age controversies in the elections

US presidential candidate Kamala Harris celebrates her 60th birthday on Sunday, but her US election rival Donald Trump's age is under scrutiny after several bizarre dance parties and rambling speeches.

To shift the polls in the elections, Kamala Harris has escalated attacks on the mental well-being of the 78-year-old Donald Trump, who is the oldest presidential candidate to date.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris said on Wednesday that "Donald Trump is increasingly unstable" after a bizarre incident of Trump spending 40 minutes on stage swaying to the music at a town hall event.

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The US presidential elections act as a major stamina test for any candidate, but this year's race has been unusually focused on age.

Kamala Harris rose to lead the Democratic ticket after 81-year-old President Joe Biden stepped down following a disastrous debate performance against Trump. Harris, who is 20 years younger than Biden, gave new hope to the party as she chased down Trump in the pools.

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Shortly after Biden was pulled out, Trump said, "She is younger," Trump told Fox News then. "I mean, she's 60 years old... I didn't realise she was 60. I thought she was a little younger. But she is 60."

In the US Presidential elections of 2024, Kamala Harris has played the age card repeatedly. She released her own medical report on 12 October stating she has "excellent health" and is fit for the presidency. She also pushed Trump over his refusal to do the same.

Her campaign has increasingly hinted that Trump is not fit to serve another year as President, referring to his medical history and several cancelled interviews and political events.

Harris said on X, "What is Donald Trump trying to hide?" Her campaign also mentioned Trump's unpredictable speeches and interviews, including when he recently spoke about the possible use of the US military against internal enemies.

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As per the polls, this is a strong strategy for Harris. Pew Research Centre polls show that people who thought Trump was "mentally sharp" dropped from 58% in July to 52% in September. While 49% of voters said Trump's age would be a disadvantage for his Presidential candidacy, 46% said Harris's age could be advantageous for her. The age of voters is also a key issue in the elections.

Harris has strong support from the younger generation, but voters from the older generation might tend to lean towards Donald Trump after her attacks on his age. As per the recent CBS poll, 53% of voters in the 45-56 age group support Trump compared to 46% for Harris, and among voters aged over 65, it grows to 57% and 42%, respectively.

According to Nancy Hirschmann, a professor from the University of Pennsylvania, Kamala Harris also faces several prejudices about age. She told AFP, "Her age does have an effect in one sense, in that, the sexism of America really is for sure on older women." She added, "There's an added layer of sexism against older women over 50."

(With inputs from agencies)