Written by @saywooord
Forever President Barack Obama vowed to remain neutral during the Democratic primary, opting to simply counsel any candidate who approaches him, which would then lead to him to vouch for a Democratic nominee. However, he did have one strong opinion during the primary: ensuring his former vice president doesn’t ruin his reputation on the campaign trail.
According to the New York Times, Obama showed special interest to Joe Biden’s campaign, however, his interest was not to help, but to precaution him.
The article according to Vanity Fair reports Obama “casts his doubts” often telling Biden, “You don’t have to do this Joe, you really don’t,” according to a source close to the two.
Once Biden entered the race proclaiming to Obama he’d “Never forgive himself” if he didn’t personally try to beat Trump in the election. At which point, the former president began urging Biden to “expand his aging inner circle”, hoping to gain a council more in touch with the dynamics of the current political climate. According to the report by the New York Times, his advisors needed to ensure Biden didn’t “embarrass himself” or “damage his legacy”, a note Obama verbally shared with the campaign staff in March.
According to the article, Biden has had a rocky road beginning with his failed run in 2008, however, Biden feels he could have beaten Trump in this past election. Though in 2016 Obama quietly suggested he sit the election out due to Hillary Clinton’s high chance of building on his previous agenda, and he believed Biden was in no shape emotionally after the passing of Biden’s son Beau in 2015.
