After a highly contentious first debate for President Joe Biden, prominent voices within the Democratic Party are increasingly urging him to reconsider his candidacy ahead of the November election. This call is led by three influential former advisers to Barack Obama, each expressing deep concern over Biden’s performance in Atlanta.
David Axelrod, a key strategist during Obama’s presidency, spoke to CNN about his shock over Biden’s demeanor, describing it as disoriented and panicked. “There are gonna be discussions about whether he should continue,” Axelrod remarked candidly.
Van Jones, known for his environmental and jobs policy advice to Obama, echoed Axelrod’s sentiments, expressing both pain and panic over Biden’s debate showing. Despite his personal admiration for Biden, Jones emphasized the failure to restore confidence among the country and the Democratic base. “I think there’s a lot of people who are going to want to see him consider taking a different course now,” Jones added, suggesting a possible reevaluation of Biden’s candidacy.
Ben Rhodes, another longtime Obama adviser, took to social media to underscore the gravity of Biden’s poor performance. His tweet, which garnered significant attention, emphasized that attempting to spin Biden’s performance positively would not be credible given its obvious shortcomings.
These criticisms from within Biden’s own party are particularly impactful given Obama’s enduring influence. As the Democratic National Convention approaches in August, Biden, barring any decision to step aside, is poised to be officially nominated as the party’s candidate. However, early polls and analyses suggest Biden’s standing has been significantly weakened by the debate.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, faces his own challenges. His upcoming convention comes shortly after a New York court found him guilty on multiple counts related to falsifying business records. Despite these legal battles, Trump maintains his innocence and is considering legal recourse.
The dynamics of the 2024 election are thus unfolding with unexpected twists and turns, shaping up to be a pivotal moment for both major parties as they prepare to finalize their nominees and strategies in the coming months.