An unforgiving new poll had a former Obama official questioning whether President Joe Biden should just call it quits in his bid for reelection.
David Axelrod, a former senior White House adviser for then-President Barack Obama, posted his thoughts on X after the sobering poll released on Sunday showed the president behind his predecessor and likely 2024 opponent, former President Donald Trump. The fact that Trump was leading in five out of six key battleground states made the reality even more brutal as Axelrod expressed his “legitimate concern.”
“It’s very late to change horses; a lot will happen in the next year that no one can predict & Biden’s team says his resolve to run is firm,” he tweeted, reacting to results from the new New York Times & Siena College poll.
“He’s defied CW before but this will send tremors of doubt thru the party–not “bed-wetting,” but legitimate concern.”
It’s very late to change horses; a lot will happen in the next year that no one can predict & Biden’s team says his resolve to run is firm.
He’s defied CW before but this will send tremors of doubt thru the party–not “bed-wetting,” but legitimate concern. https://t.co/g6zeWF0T87— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 5, 2023
The poll, taken among registered voters, showed Biden leading by 2 points in Wisconsin. However, Trump enjoyed leads of 3 to 10 points over Biden in several states including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.
The greatest concern is that his biggest liability is the one thing he can’t change. Among all the unpredictables there is one thing that is sure: the age arrow only points in one direction.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 5, 2023
The Hill reported:
The poll found that 71 percent of registered voters said they agree to some degree that Biden is “just too old to be an effective president,” while only 39 percent said the same about Trump.
Asked if Biden has the “mental sharpness to be an effective president,” 62 percent of participants said no, while 35 percent agreed with the statement. Meanwhile, 52 percent of participants said they believe Trump has the mental sharpness to be an effective president, while 44 percent said he does not.
“The [president] is justly proud of his accomplishments. Trump is a dangerous, unhinged demagogue whose brazen disdain for the rules, norms, laws and institutions or democracy should be disqualifying. But the stakes of miscalculation here are too dramatic to ignore,” added Axelrod, who was a chief strategist for Obama’s presidential campaigns.
The @POTUS is justly proud of his accomplishments. Trump is a dangerous, unhinged demagogue whose brazen disdain for the rules, norms, laws and institutions or democracy should be disqualifying. But the stakes of miscalculation here are too dramatic to ignore.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 5, 2023
The political strategist concluded that although the decision is Biden’s to make, the president needs to employ wisdom and consider what is best for the country.
Only @JoeBiden can make this decision. If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether it’s in HIS best interest or the country’s?
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 5, 2023
“Only [Biden] can make this decision. If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether it’s in HIS best interest or the country’s,” Axelrod concluded.
David Axelrod is old school, past, not relevant. For the Democrat Party, “changing horses” is a very successful tool in their toolbox. To deny that is to not know politics. In a last-minute rush, when Crooked Joe gets thrown out or dies, many princes will come out of the woodwork to save the day and save the party. Many are already rehearsing behind closed doors.