Former Obama administration official David Axelrod warned GOP strategists if President Joe Biden is replaced at the top of the Democratic ticket, they'd be "in trouble with Donald Trump."
In remarks on CNN after Biden's disastrous debate performance Thursday night, Axelrod suggested to GOP strategists Scott Jennings and David Urban they might regret any changes by Democrats.
"If for whatever reason there's a change at the top of the ticket, you guys are in trouble with Donald Trump because the guy who was up there tonight is not a guy who's going to inspire people," Axelrod said. "He did not show in any way that he has changed."
Video of the exchange was posted by Mediate.
Biden's debate disaster has Democrats worried, with some pundits indicating there were discussions about Biden bowing out before the election, The Hill reported.
"I think there was a sense of shock, actually, at how he came out at the beginning of this debate. How his voice sounded. He seemed a bit disoriented," Axelrod said on CNN, the outlet reported. "He did get stronger as the debate went on."
"I think you're going to hear discussions that I don't know will lead to anything but there are going to be discussions about whether he should continue," he added.
Jennings — lauding Trump for having "won several policy exchanges tonight" — conceded, however, that Trump focused on dark warnings and showed a lack of optimism.
Still, according to Jennings, viewers' main takeaway will be Biden appearing old and weak, The Hill reported.
Biden had a cold, a White House official said, and his camp defended him.
"President Biden is the only person who has ever beaten Donald Trump. He will do it again," a Biden adviser told The Hill.
"Donald Trump did not give voters any reason to vote for him tonight. On the issues, the American people are with Joe Biden," the unnamed adviser added.