David Axelrod warns that Biden's age issue is plaguing his 2024 reelection chances
President Joe Biden is not only suffering from horrible polling numbers and a general lack of interest from Democratic voters, but he's also dealing with age-related issues that could mean the end of his political career.
Former Obama chief strategist David Axelrod has been a thorn in the Biden campaign's side in recent weeks, calling out the president on multiple occasions and suggesting he reconsider running in 2024.
According to Fox News, Axelrod once again brought up the age issue, an issue Axelrod says is a campaign killer, but one that Biden has no control over.
During a recent interview with CNN's Dana Bash and former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, where the panel discussed a possible third-party run by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Axelrod was careful not to be too brutal toward the elderly president, but noted his age issues are worrisome, to say the least.
"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," Axelrod said.
He added, "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. In front of the camera, what he’s projecting is causing people concerns, and that is worrisome."
The discussion turned to Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) who recently announced he will challenge Biden for the nomination. Axelrod suggested Phillips is attempting to "exploit" the situation.
"Look, I said what I said. I think that there is one issue that is hanging over him. 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," Axelrod said.
He continued, "But the age issue is difficult. And, so, Phillips is trying to exploit that."
And again, my feeling is: either get out or get going. The stakes are so high - this isn't Mitt Romney or John McCain or anybody else on the other side. It's Donald Trump.' — David Axelrod, on Biden.
https://t.co/T8hkDDZ3L1— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) November 14, 2023
Axelrod also sounded the alarm for the Democratic Party regarding former President Donald Trump's chances of winning with the addition of mulitple third-party candidates.
"I believe Joe Biden will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. And right now, we're getting to the third party point. My concern is that Donald Trump has a high floor and a low ceiling, and you throw a bunch of third-party candidates in there, and you are making it much more likely that he wins the election," he said.
A vast majority of voters, according to a recent CNN survey, do not believe Biden "has the stamina and sharpness to be president."
Only time will tell if the Dem Party rolls the dice on a new candidate, but they'll be forced to make that monumental decision sooner than later, as there's less than a year left before Election Day 2024.