Axelrod walks back Biden 2024 remarks, says people 'overreacting'

Former Obama advisor David Axelrod on Tuesday appeared to downplay comments suggesting that President Joe Biden ought to reconsider his 2024 White House bid, insisting that he had not called for him to drop out of the race.

His comments had prompted a litany of criticism from Biden staffers and Democratic officials, leading him to minimize their significance to Politico on Tuesday.

"It’s overreacting to say I told him to drop out. I didn't do that," he said. "He’s the only one to make the decision. And if his decision is 'no, I’m the best person to take this on,' then he will."

Axelrod on Sunday reacted to a NYT/Siena poll showing former President Donald Trump with a notable edge in several key swing states.

"The [president] is justly proud of his accomplishments," he said. "Trump is a dangerous, unhinged demagogue whose brazen disdain for the rules, norms, laws and institutions or democracy should be disqualifying. But the stakes of miscalculation here are too dramatic to ignore."

"Only [Biden] can make this decision. If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party," he added. "What he needs to decide is whether that is wise; whether it's in HIS best interest or the country's?"

Biden currently trails Trump by 0.9% in the RealClearPolitics polling average.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.