McCain Age

If John McCain wins the U.S. Presidential Election, he will be 72 years old when inaugurated, making him the oldest first term president in U.S. history. According to insurance actuarial tables, a 72-year old man has a 1 in 3 chance of dying before the age of 80. If McCain and Palin were elected to a second term, there would be a 1 in 3 chance that Sarah Palin would automatically succeed McCain as President of the United States.¹

Fast Facts

McCain born: 1936¹
Potential age at inauguration: 72¹
Potential age during 2012 re-election campaign: 76¹
Potential age at end of second term: 80¹
Actuarial tables say 72-year old man has 33% chance of dying before 80¹
McCain's former smoking habit may make odds even higher²
McCain six times as likely to die before end of first term than Obama¹

ABC Panels Questions McCain's Age

During a September 21, 2008, episode of This Week with George Stephanopoulos, panelist Sam Donaldson said he believed McCain's gaffes during the preceding turbulent week in the world financial markets put the issue of "age... back on the table" in the 2008 Presidential campaign.³