When is a candidate too old to run for President?  This is a question that has to be crossing voters' minds as we enter the closing days of what feels like a never-ending Presidential election cycle.

During the primary season I was convinced that John McCain was the Republicans' best shot at taking the Presidency.  Now, however, I recognize that at that time I didn't take into account McCain's age and the image that he would present to the electorate.

Sad but true, McCain's age is posing a daunting factor in this race as image plays oh so ever an important place in the peoples' choice.  Just as Nixon's five o'clock shadow and sweaty forehead turned voters to John F. Kennedy and just as George H.W. Bush's looking at his watch during his debate and taking ill in the lap of the Japanese Prime Minister cast a shadow on his race against Bill Clinton, so John McCain's age is presenting an ever present obstacle in his run against Barack Obama.

This was most apparent during the last debate in Nashville.  There was Barack Obama, handsome, cool, collected and in touch, debating a man who was way past his prime.  There was a pathetic quality in this debate as John McCain paced around aimlessly while Obama answered questions posed by the audience.  The more passionate McCain spoke, the more punishing on the viewer.  His image was tired and old and way past a time in his life when he should be keeping up such a punishing schedule.

I recognize that Ronald Reagan was about the same age when he ran for his first term.  However, he was running against an unpopular incumbent.  He was also a former actor who could charm his audience.  This is not the case for John McCain.  The more dire the economy becomes, the more out of touch he appears.  Obama's description of him as "erratic" is unfortunate but true.  He has no cogent plan and does not instill the confidence that a candidate for President must.

I'm not an agist; I am a realist.  As our nation moves forward, I predict that the age of the candidate and the image he/she projects will be an even more important factor is the national parties' choices for President.