Democratic strategist David Axelrod, renowned for his role in former President Barack Obama’s 2008 election victory, has suggested that President Joe Biden should contemplate withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race. This recommendation comes in response to a recent poll showing Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in key battleground states.
Axelrod referred to a survey conducted by the New York Times and Siena College, which indicated that President Biden is falling behind Trump in several states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. These states were won by Biden during the 2020 presidential election.
Axelrod emphasized that the ultimate decision regarding the 2024 election rests with Joe Biden himself, as he is the only one who can decide whether to pursue re-election. He noted the “legitimate concern” that these polling results may provoke within the Democratic Party. Axelrod also acknowledged the potential risks of changing course given the limited time left for a primary campaign. However, he pointed out that the Democratic Party has an abundance of emerging leadership talent.
The survey, which involved 3,662 registered voters in swing states, revealed that while Biden maintained a lead over Trump in Wisconsin, he trailed behind Trump in the other five states by margins ranging from four to ten percentage points. Respondents overwhelmingly favored Trump over Biden on issues related to immigration, national security, and the Israel conflict. The data showed that a significant portion of respondents believed that the country was moving in the wrong direction under Biden’s leadership, and there was a substantial gap between the two candidates concerning trust in economic matters.
The poll also indicated a decline in support for Biden among key demographics within his base. Young voters under the age of 30 showed only slight favorability towards Biden, while his support among Hispanic voters had dropped to single digits. Notably, 22% of traditionally Democratic black voters expressed support for Trump, suggesting a potential shift in voter preferences.
The age of the candidates played a role in the poll results, with 71% of respondents considering Joe Biden “too old” to be president, including 54% of his own supporters. In contrast, only 39% felt the same way about Trump, including 19% of Trump’s backers.
