Unrelenting on President Joe Biden’s candidacy, David Axelrod returned to the “one issue that is hanging over him” after the latest bumble from the octogenarian.
(Video: CNN)
The CNN political commentator, Democrat strategist and one-time senior adviser to then-President Barack Obama joined “State of Union” Sunday where, for the umpteenth time, the incumbent’s advanced age had presented itself as a major issue.
One day after Biden appeared confused during the Veteran’s Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetary, Axelrod appeared alongside former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to weigh in on the 2024 election with host Dana Bash.
Addressing the most recent polls from CNN and The New York Times/Siena that featured the 61% disapproval rating of Biden, the strategist gaslit on the president’s performance and turned his focus to the one lingering concern that could not be altered prior to November 2024.
“I have no concerns about polls a year out. I mean, you have to look at them and analyze them and adjust. But I was in a situation as a strategist for Barack Obama in 2011 where we were facing some difficult polls. The one number in the polling that was concerning, and in the CNN poll that followed after The New York Times poll, had to do with age, and that is one thing you can’t reverse no matter how effective Joe Biden is behind the scenes,” argued Axelrod. “In front of the camera, what he’s projecting is causing people concerns, and that is worrisome.”
He later went on to add, referring to age, “I think that there is one issue that is hanging over him.”
As demonstrated Saturday, Biden looked uncertain of what he was supposed to do and required instruction in what many criticized as an “embarrassing” moment for him and the country during such a solemn ceremony.
‘Embarrassing’: Biden appears confused, lost during Veteran’s Day wreath laying ceremony https://t.co/Bo10L3vNap via @BIZPACReview — BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) November 12, 2023
Still, Axelrod had walked back remarks that had been interpreted as calling for the president to step aside and allow for another candidate, stating, “It’s overreacting to say I told him to drop out,” after posting on X “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?”
Adding to his analysis Sunday, Axelrod insisted that, despite polling in key battleground states, Biden could be triumphant against Trump once more, but that age wasn’t the only factor that could stand in the way.
“The country is in a sour mood, no doubt about it. It is hard to be an incumbent, and it’s been in a sour mood since before he was elected. There are concerns about inflation, that’s a problem. Those could be overcome. And I think with Donald Trump on the other end, he could still win this election. But the age issue is difficult,” the commentator continued before addressing primary challenger, Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips. “And so Phillips is trying to exploit that.”
Axelrod went on to note that third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and a speculated run from West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) who announced he would not be seeking re-election, would only stand to help Trump whom he said had a “high floor and a low ceiling” of support.
“…and you throw a bunch of third-party candidates in there, and you are making it much more likely that he wins the election,” suggested the pundit.