On Sunday, David Axelrod, a former strategist for Obama, discussed President Biden’s mental acuity and whether he should step back from politics after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“I think this kind of conversation will come up, and he seems to be having a tough time with this. Maybe he should consider taking a breather,” Axelrod remarked during an appearance on CNN, following the news about Biden’s health.
Biden, who is 82, has been diagnosed with an aggressive type of prostate cancer, as revealed by his office on Sunday. This diagnosis follows a routine check-up that identified a “small nodule” requiring further assessment earlier in the month.
The news emerges as former President Trump has ramped up criticism against Biden regarding Democratic losses in last November’s presidential election.
Biden exited the race in July, which allowed Vice President Harris to take her place as the Democratic nominee.
In recent weeks, a number of Democrats have argued that Biden should not pursue a second term and feel he contributed to the party’s losses by not withdrawing from previous contests.
The conversation has been fueled by several books published last year, providing new details about Biden’s health.
Axelrod was among those Democrats who urged Biden to consider bowing out of the presidential race after a tumultuous debate performance against Trump in June.
“Some harsh truths are evident during discussions like these, and the president just doesn’t seem aware of that. He’s not winning,” Axelrod noted on CNN in early July last year.
Following Biden’s electoral defeat, Axelrod dismissed claims that staying in the race would have led to a Biden victory.
“I came across a quote from an unnamed Biden aide who said that Obama’s team drove Biden away in 2016. He supposedly could have beaten Trump then, and again,” Axelrod mentioned.
Expressing his dismay over the news of Biden’s cancer, Axelrod said, “Prostate cancer is quite prevalent among men, and while it’s not uncommon at his age, it’s still troubling.” He added, “It’s good to hear that it’s manageable, but it’s obviously still concerning.”
