‘So Do You Think He Should Drop Out?’ Wolf Blitzer Reacts to David Axelrod’s Assessment of Biden’s Chances in 2024
Democratic strategist and CNN commentator David Axelrod gave a tough assessment of President Joe Biden’s reelection chances next year. The assessment was dire enough to prompt Wolf Blitzer to ask if Biden should decline to run for reelection in 2024.
Blitzer pointed to a tweet from Axelrod pointing to some rough poll numbers for Biden showing him trailing former President Donald Trump in five key swing states. Trump is the runaway frontrunner to be the Republican presidential nominee next year. He is also under criminal indictment in four jurisdictions.
In his tweet, Axelrod called Biden’s poll numbers a “legitimate concern.”
“These are very brutal poll numbers,” Blitzer said. “As a Democrat concerned about Donald Trump, what do you want Biden to do?”
“I want him to consider what is best in terms of the goal that I know he is committed to, which is defeating Donald Trump,” Axelrod replied. “And if he believes, based on not just what it’s in his heart, but what’s in data and what he’s being told that he has the best chance to do it, then he should run. But you know, the thing that irritates me a little bit, Wolf, is this notion that people who are concerned are ‘bedwetters.'”
He added, “These polls reflect a kind of sour mood in the country about the direction of the country, direction of the economy. And they really have to turn this into an aggressive comparative campaign.”
Axelrod further stated that Biden has “got to run full-out starting right now and they’ve got to put it into a comparative frame.”
“So do you think he should drop out?” Blitzer asked.
“I think he is entitled to make that decision on his own,” the strategist replied. “And I’ve said many times, I don’t think a primary challenge would be successful. It would only weaken him. So, I’ve not encouraged that. But I think, you know, he has a record to be proud of and I think history will be kind to Joe Biden based on what he’s done in his first, in his term as president. And you know, the question is, how will it end? Will it end with the defeat of Donald Trump or not? That’s what he has to consider because how it ends is important.”
Watch above via CNN.
