On Sunday, a New York Times-Sienna College poll showed incumbent Joe Biden trailing President Trump in key swing states by up to 10 points in the upcoming 2024 election.
After the news broke, several Democrats began to speculate whether Biden should drop out of the race or not.
Democrats are raising concerns about Joe Biden’s reelection odds in light of new polling that shows the president trailing Donald Trump in five swing states.
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— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) November 6, 2023
One of the most prominent voices in the discussion was former Obama Adviser David Axelrod, who suggested that Biden should drop out of the race so the Democrats have a chance to defeat Trump.
It's very late to change horses; a lot will happen in the next year that no one can predict & Biden's team says his resolve to run is firm.
He's defied CW before but this will send tremors of doubt thru the party–not "bed-wetting," but legitimate concern. https://t.co/g6zeWF0T87— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) November 5, 2023
On Monday, Texas Senator Ted Cruz joined “Fox & Friends” to discuss the issue.
From Fox News:
SEN. TED CRUZ: I think that’s very serious. It’s been my view for a long time that Barack Obama has been the person pulling the strings behind Joe Biden. Joe Biden is clearly not up to it. I think Obama is the one making the decisions and Axelrod is Obama’s right hand. And we’ve seen for the last six months, more and more warning signs that the Democrats are getting scared. Biden is not up to it. Even with his diminished capacity, they don’t think he can do it. I sat on my podcast three months ago, ‘Verdict with Ted Cruz.’ I predicted that there was a very real chance the Democrats would jettison Joe Biden and parachute in Michelle Obama and that they’d do it at the convention next summer. I think the chances of that are rising every day.
Even though it might seem like a long shot to a lot of people, don’t forget that NBC News revealed on Friday that Obama has been working behind the scenes for months to help with Biden’s AI strategy.
Former President Obama quietly advised the White House over the past 5 months on its strategy to address AI, engaging behind the scenes with tech companies and holding Zoom meetings with White House aides at Biden’s request, aides to both men say. https://t.co/QxNfwVqBGO
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 3, 2023
So, is it that much of a stretch to think he’s still determining policy as well?
Even President Trump believes that Obama is still calling the shots. In an interview with Fox News last month, Trump called Obama Biden’s boss.
Fox News provided a transcript of the interview:
Brian Kilmeade: Well, you mean President Biden. So but right now.
Donald Trump: I also mean Obama. What do you mean? You know Obama and Biden. But Obama is Biden’s boss. Guess you didn’t really know that.
Brian Kilmeade: Do you believe it? You believe President Obama.
Donald Trump: In the past? I don’t think I don’t think Biden knows what’s happening, to be honest with you. I think Obama is calling these shots and he’s always felt this way about Iran. There’s no question about that. No, I think Obama and Obama’s people certainly are calling the shots, not Biden.
ADVERTISEMENTBrian Kilmeade: So. So you do have a dispute, your gut tells you, but you don’t have any proof that President Obama is calling the shots.
Donald Trump: Oh, it’s my gut. But my guess I’ve been right about everything. So, you know, it’s good they have an expression out there. Trump’s been right about everything. You take a look at, go down the list. We’ve been right about everything.
Even Dean Phillips, who is running against Biden in the Democratic primary, doesn’t think Biden will be the party’s nominee when it’s all said and done.
I'll be clear – if my campaign is not viable after March 5th, I'll wrap it up and endorse the likely nominee – Biden or otherwise.
I will then campaign for them as vigorously as I'm campaigning now.
I'm not here for games – the goal is to maximize the odds of beating Trump. https://t.co/FrvE80WzTF
— Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@deanbphillips) November 4, 2023
If he did, he wouldn’t have included the “otherwise” in that statement, which was posted a day before the New York Times poll was released.
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