The 15th Anniversary of Electing a Narcissist
As President Joe Biden “gamely” attempts to carry on the Barrack Obama’s legacy, Democrats attending an Obama reunion in Chicago “say they’re in need of inspiration ahead of the 2024 Democratic national convention,” Mary Ann Ahern reports for NBC.
“Tremors of Doubt”
On Sunday morning David Axelrod shared disappointing polling numbers about Mr. Biden from the New York Times/Siena survey, warning that the report would “send tremors of doubt” through the party.
Mr. Axelrod said of President Joe Biden:
The greatest concern is that his (Biden’s) biggest liability is the one thing he can’t change. Among all the unpredictables, there is one thing that is sure: the age arrow only points in one direction…
Only @JoeBiden can make this decision. If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party. What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether it’s in HIS best interest or the country’s?…
Yes, there also is risk associated with changing course now, as there is little time left for a primary campaign–and campaigns are how we test candidates… But there is a lot of leadership talent in the Democratic Party, poised to emerge.
It’s Been a Long Time Coming
James Freeman argues in the WSJ that Mr. Axelrod could simply have been responding to news of an especially disturbing poll. On Monday, however, Mr. Axelrod clarified on CNN:
“I’m not reacting to one particular poll, but to a whole body of research and conversations with people.”
“If people at the Obama reunion were conversing about Biden liabilities and the potential for other Democrats to run in 2024,” reflects Mr. Freeman, “then party insiders are finally catching up to what voters have been saying for a long time.”