Biden Responds to David Axelrod’s Comments
President Biden's re-election strategy came under scrutiny on Monday, as Politico columnist Jonathan Martin criticized his recent actions and called for him to take a more proactive stance in addressing key concerns from voters and Democratic elites. The article specifically pointed to a report that Biden had privately referred to former Obama adviser David Axelrod as a "p----," stating that name-calling would not win him any votes in the next election.
In addition, Martin criticized Biden's recent decision to debate with the White House press corps regarding his low poll numbers in battleground states. He argued that this behavior would not make his chances of defeating former President Trump any more likely and that it was not a strategy to win over the necessary 270 electoral votes.
Biden's age has been a major concern for both voters and Democratic elites, with many questioning whether he has the physical and mental capacity to both govern and campaign in the upcoming election. Martin pointed out that Biden's age will not permit him to campaign in the same manner as previous incumbents, and that his staff does not trust him to do so either. This, in turn, would result in a potential "Rose Garden campaign" for the president.
Axelrod, who previously served as a senior adviser to President Obama, also expressed concern over Biden's age and its potential impact on the election. He stated on CNN that the "age issue" was the one thing that could not be reversed, regardless of Biden's effectiveness behind the scenes.
In order to address these concerns, Martin suggested that Biden consider appointing former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to facilitate a peace process in the Middle East. Additionally, he called on Biden to take a proactive stance on his son Hunter Biden's legal problems, stating that the president should address the issue as soon as possible.
This call for action extends to Hunter Biden's ongoing legal issues, which have been a source of criticism and scrutiny for the president. Martin argued that Biden should encourage his son to resolve these issues quickly and consider sitting down for an interview with a trusted media source, in order to clear the air and address any questions or concerns.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Martin's article. However, it is clear that in the face of low poll numbers and concerns over his age and his son's legal troubles, President Biden may need to take more proactive and decisive action in order to secure a successful re-election bid in 2024.