Former President Obama’s senior adviser, David Axelrod, ignited a political firestorm on Sunday by suggesting that President Biden should withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Axelrod’s remarks came in response to a New York Times and Siena College poll published on Sunday, which showed Biden trailing former President Trump in key battleground states.
Axelrod, known for his influential role in Obama’s administration, took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to voice his concerns. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “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 further argued that Biden’s poll numbers could send “tremors of doubt” through the Democratic Party, emphasizing that his concerns were not mere “bed-wetting” but legitimate apprehension.
Axelrod highlighted Trump’s controversial persona, labeling him as a “dangerous, unhinged demagogue” whose actions should disqualify him from holding office. However, Axelrod cautioned against underestimating the consequences of miscalculation. He stressed that the decision to continue the race ultimately lies with President Biden, urging him to consider whether it is in his best interest or the country’s.
The New York Times and Siena College poll revealed alarming statistics for the Biden camp. Biden trailed Trump in five out of six battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, with margins ranging from 3 to 10 percentage points among registered voters. Only in Wisconsin was Biden ahead by a narrow 2 percentage points. This setback comes after Biden’s victory in all six states during the 2020 election against Trump, marking a significant blow to his reelection prospects.
The poll also shed light on concerns within Biden’s own party regarding his age and policy decisions, particularly related to the economy. A staggering 71 percent of registered voters expressed doubt about Biden’s effectiveness due to his age, while 62 percent questioned his mental sharpness to fulfill the role of an effective president.
Axelrod underscored Biden’s age as his “biggest liability,” a factor beyond the president’s control. He argued that amidst the uncertainties, one thing remains certain: “the age arrow only points in one direction.”
These remarks from Axelrod echo sentiments expressed by several Democrats who have raised concerns about Biden’s age impacting his ability to run for reelection. Biden, in response, has acknowledged the public discourse around his age but urged voters to assess him based on his performance.
The New York Times/Siena College poll, conducted among 3,662 registered voters in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin from October 22 to November 3, 2023, revealed a margin of sampling error ranging from 4.4 to 4.8 percentage points in each state.
