Even Republicans acknowledge the novel coronavirus pandemic afflicting the nation poses a unique threat to Trump with seniors.

Joe BidenJoe BidenOvernight Energy: Trump says US will cut oil production to secure global deal | Green groups press Biden on climate plans after Sanders exit | EPA looks to suspend hazardous waste cleanups during outbreakTrump campaign, RNC reach 17 million voters with digital effortsKyle Kulinski: What went wrong for the Sanders campaignMOREs campaign sees a big opening with a key demographic in the general election: senior citizens. 
In 2016, President TrumpDonald John TrumpCalifornia governor praises Trump’s efforts to help state amid coronavirus crisisTrump threatens to withhold visas for countries that don’t quickly repatriate citizensTrump admin looks to cut farmworker pay to help industry during pandemic: reportMORE beat Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonKyle Kulinski: What went wrong for the Sanders campaignSanders’s fate sealed by the over 40 crowdThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Small businesses, unemployed await Congress’s next movesMORE by 7 points with voters older than 65-years-old, according to exit polls. But this year, Biden advisers have watched Trumps support from these voters erode in states like Florida with large senior populations. 
A new CNN poll leaves the Biden campaign salivating. It shows the former vice president leading Trump nationally by 13 points with voters older than 65. It follows another YouGov poll that showed Biden tied with Trump at 49 percent. 
I think seniors are now going to be a problem for him, one Biden aide predicted, referring to Trump. Regardless of which poll you believe, he is doing much better with seniors than [Clinton] which is a big deal and a big part of a winning coalition.
Even Republicans acknowledge the novel coronavirus pandemic afflicting the nation poses a unique threat to Trump with seniors. Older people are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 disease.
Trump and his campaign are hoping that he can convince older Americans and voters in general that his administration has responded strongly to the pandemic. But Democrats cast Trumps response as too late, and think voters will punish him in the fall.
Some GOP strategists say Trump hurt himself by floating the idea that the economy could reopen on Easter Sunday, a position he later backtracked from. They said this gave points to critics who say Trump has underestimated the threat.
We havent done ourselves any favors, one Republican strategist said.
Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton put it this way: The more unsteadiness Trump shows coupled with his disregard from norms and institutions, the more I believe he pushes this group into Bidens corner.
Another issue Bidens campaign is ready to pounce upon is talk earlier this year from Trump that suggested he could be open to reducing entitlement spending.
During a Fox News town hall last month, Trump said he had plans to propose cuts to government programs including Medicare. 
Oh well be cutting, he said. Were also going to have growth like youve never seen before.
White House officials spent the following days walking back Trumps comments. Fake news, Trumps former press secretary Stephanie GrishamStephanie GrishamThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Americans with COVID-19 immunity may lead US back to workTrump shakes up White House communications teamThe Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Debruyne Says Global Response Platform Needed; Navarro Saw It ComingMORE wrote on Twitter. POTUS was talking about cutting deficits NOT entitlements.
Democratic strategist Eddie Vale added that Trump has exacerbated matters for himself with such comments.
That is going to hurt him, he said. 
Another warning for Trump, he added was Bidens performance with older voters in the Democratic primary. 
Last month in Florida, Biden won the primary overwhelmingly and enjoyed a huge advantage with seniors over Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersOvernight Energy: Trump says US will cut oil production to secure global deal | Green groups press Biden on climate plans after Sanders exit | EPA looks to suspend hazardous waste cleanups during outbreakKyle Kulinski: What went wrong for the Sanders campaignThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Debate over mail-in voting heats upMORE (I-Vt.). A National Election Pool pre-election survey showed that 70 percent of voters older than 65 supported him. 
Earlier in the campaign, on Super Tuesday, Biden also swept voters in that age group. Exit polls showed Biden picking up 48 percent of seniors, far surpassing Sanders and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. 
Biden has performed exceptionally well with older voters in the Democratic primary and I expect that trend would continue with older independent voters and older moderate Republican voters, Singleton said. Theyre the most reliable voting bloc and data suggests they have an affinity for Biden and normalcy. 
Theres also the personality figure.
Biden, 77 and a senior himself, is popular with older Americans because they just like him, say some opponents.
Sanders sought to cut into Bidens popularity with seniors by highlighting statements he made on reducing budget deficits that would have considered reforms to Social Security and other programs. The attacks did little to cut into the Biden advantage.
Asked by CBS News why he was trailing Biden with older voters, Sanders replied: Look, you know why? Ill tell you why. Because Joe is a nice guy. Okay. Hes a decent person. People like him. 
Republicans say Trump can beat Biden by appealing to older voters, particularly on economic issues. 
Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak said much of Bidens success will be dependent on how the pandemic shakes out in the coming months. 
If the U.S. gets through the pandemic and the economy begins to recover in [the third quarter,] Trump will gain among all groups, but specifically among seniors, Mackowiak predicted. 
But the Republican strategist said things will have to change quickly for Trump to capitalize. 
If the election happened today, Id be biting my nails, the strategist said.