Younger candidates are challenging Case with a much more nuanced — and far less taboo — appeal to generational change. What Case once invoked against Akaka, and paid dearly for, is now tolerated, even expected, by an electorate seemingly more comfortable weighing leadership through the lenses of age, urgency, and readiness.
However, take away the age number and place each into their generational category, and you will find something very interesting going on, with the result being whether this country will continue to be run by a member of the Silent Generation or return to a pattern of being run by Baby Boomers for probably one last time.