The Democratic strategist known for his pivotal role in Barack Obama’s 2008 victory has recommended that President Biden withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. This suggestion comes in response to a recent poll by the New York Times and Siena College, which reveals President Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in five crucial battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. Notably, these are the same states Biden won when he faced Trump in the 2020 election.
Axelrod expressed on X that this data will cast significant doubt within the Democratic Party and raise legitimate concerns about President Biden’s re-election bid.
“Only Joe Biden can make this decision,” he said of having the president run in 2024.
“If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party,” he posted.
“What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether it’s in HIS best interest or the country’s?”
Axelrod noted there is a “risk associated with changing course now, as there is little time left for a primary campaign — and campaigns are how we test candidates.
“But there is a lot of leadership talent in the Democratic Party poised to emerge,” he wrote.
“The POTUS is justly proud of his accomplishments,” Axelrod said before bashing Trump as a “dangerous, unhinged demagogue whose brazen disdain for the rules, norms, laws and institutions of democracy should be disqualifying.
“But the stakes of miscalculation here are too dramatic to ignore,” Axelrod said.
Among the 3,662 registered voters surveyed in swing states, President Biden led former President Trump only in Wisconsin. In the remaining five swing states, he lagged behind Trump by a significant margin, ranging from four to 10 percentage points among registered voters.
The poll indicated a strong preference for Trump over Biden on key issues, such as immigration, national security, and the ongoing conflict in Israel.
A substantial two-thirds of respondents expressed the belief that the country is heading in the wrong direction under Biden’s leadership. Additionally, only 37% of respondents trusted Biden with the economy, in contrast to the 59% who had confidence in Trump, revealing one of the most significant disparities on this issue within the poll.
Furthermore, the survey highlights that Biden is experiencing eroding support from a considerable portion of his base.
“There is nervousness among the donors and some of the elected officials that Joe Biden won’t be a strong candidate because of doubts Americans have about his health. And those doubts have been expressed in the polls,” former Democratic National Committee Chairman Ed Rendell acknowledged in a WABC 770 interview with John Catsimatidis.
Still, Rendell was optimistic about Biden’s prospects over Trump’s.
