David Axelrod: Biden’s age ‘main’ downside for future political viability
David Axelrod: Biden’s age ‘main’ downside for future political viability
Daniel ChaitinJune 11, 12:38 PM June 11, 12:45 PM
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Former Obama adviser David Axelrod raised a “main” pink flag concerning President Joe Biden’s ambitions to run for reelection in 2024, pointing to the commander in chief’s superior age.
His feedback appeared in a New York Instances report Saturday that examined “whispers” amongst Democrats who’re more and more anxious about Biden’s management forward of the 2022 midterm elections wherein Republicans are extensively anticipated to win again management of a minimum of one chamber of Congress.
Biden, who’s 79, is the oldest man ever to be president. In actual fact, Biden was older when he took the oath of workplace than was Ronald Reagan, the second-oldest sitting president ever, when he retired at 77. Biden could be 82 for a second inauguration.
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“The presidency is a monstrously taxing job, and the stark actuality is the president could be nearer to 90 than 80 on the finish of a second time period, and that may be a significant difficulty,” Axelrod stated.
Biden stated in December that he would run for reelection if he’s in good well being.
“I am an ideal respecter of destiny. Destiny has intervened in my life many, many occasions. If I am within the well being I am in now, if I am in good well being, then, in reality, I might run once more,” the president stated on the time.
Ought to Biden decline to hunt a second time period, youthful politicians could line as much as search the Democratic Celebration’s nomination. Amongst them might be former rivals in 2020 who turned members of Biden’s administration, together with Vice President Kamala Harris, who’s 57, and 40-year-old Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Among the many older set, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), two high-profile, left-wing politicians who’re 80 and 72, respectively, have additionally stoked presidential hypothesis as Biden’s ballot numbers have taken a nostril dive.
Former President Donald Trump, who has flirted with the notion of a 2024 marketing campaign, is 75 with a birthday developing subsequent week.
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Biden’s critics typically increase questions on his bodily power and psychological acuity, spurred by frequent gaffes that aides typically then swoop in to wash up. Axelrod, who was a high strategist for Barack Obama’s two successful presidential campaigns, argued that the age issue had been a distraction from Biden’s accomplishments.
“Biden doesn’t get the credit score he deserves for steering the nation by means of the worst of the pandemic, passing historic laws, pulling the NATO alliance collectively in opposition to Russian aggression and restoring decency and decorum to the White Home,” Axelrod stated. “And a part of the explanation he doesn’t is performative. He appears his age and isn’t as agile in entrance of a digicam as he as soon as was, and this has fed a story about competence that isn’t rooted in actuality.”