Political analyst and columnist Jonathan Martin had few words of praise for President Joe Biden in a recent article published by Politico.
Martin, who has had a close working relationship with Biden, questioned the president’s campaign strategy and suggested it was a mistake to berate former President Barack Obama’s key adviser, David Axelrod, in public or private, and was not going to move him forward in the polls.
Martin wrote in Politico: “Calling David Axelrod ‘a p—-,’ as a person who has heard Biden use the word says he does in private, is not a strategy to win 270 electoral votes. And repeating a PG version of the same animus in public while litigating polling with the White House press corps also won’t make Biden’s re-election any likelier.”
Axelrod made public his reservations regarding Biden seeking a second term. Citing low poll numbers, the state of the economy, significant public concern regarding Biden’s mental and physical fitness and a probable loss in a head-to-head rematch against Trump, Axelrod has quietly encouraged party leaders to seek other options.
During a Sunday interview with CNN, Axelrod said the president’s “age issue” would be a significant issue in the 2024 election.
“The one number in the polling that was concerning, and in the CNN poll that followed after The New York Times poll, had to do with age,” said Axelrod. “And that is one thing you can’t reverse no matter how effective Joe Biden is behind the scenes. In front of the camera, what he’s projecting is causing people concerns, and that is worrisome.”
The Politico correspondent agreed and added: “For Biden to use fundraisers, as he did Thursday, to deny his difficulties and complain about press coverage may be therapeutic, but it doesn’t make him any likelier to defeat Trump once more.”
Fox News reported that Martin also criticized the president for taking an adversarial tone with the press corps — noting his frequent outbursts and his recent sparring with Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy.
Last week, when Doocy asked the president to comment on recent polls that showed both he and Vice President Kamala Harris slipping in their favorability ratings, Biden snapped at Doocy and charged that reports do not know how to read polling data.
“You don’t read the polls,” scolded Doocy. “There are 10 polls — eight of them I’m beating him in. You guys only do two. CNN, New York Times, check it out. We’ll get you a copy,” said Biden.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
