Biden's test in the State of the Union tonight is to show he's still got what it takes

In February of 2023, President Biden hadn't yet launched his campaign for reelection. He had said he was planning to run for a second term, but there were a lot of people in his own party who wondered whether he was really up for it.

His answer came 32 minutes into his State of the Union Address.

"Some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset," Biden said, prompting a cacophony of boos from Republicans. Biden kept the back and forth going, negotiating in real time. And thus began a moment that quieted Biden's critics and soothed nervous supporters.

Tonight, Biden, now 81, delivers another State of the Union address that once again gives him an opportunity and a big television audience to try to put to rest lingering questions from voters about whether he has what it takes to another four years in the highest office in the land.

Biden's unscripted fight with Republicans last year quelled some doubts

After that spontaneous moment in last year's speech, questions about Biden's political plans quieted down and the Democratic establishment quickly fell in line behind the incumbent president.

"I think for those of us who see the president often working off a teleprompter, it was a reaffirming moment that the president's still got it," said Faiz Shakir, who managed the 2020 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. "He's got his wits, he's got his humor, he's got his fight."

He said the speech worked on two levels: Biden was standing up for popular programs, and taking the fight directly to his Republican antagonists in Congress.

When Biden took his show on the road last spring, he recounted the story again and again. All he had to do was mention the State of the Union, and supportive crowds would respond.

But polls