Obama on board - Democrat Biden lands key endorsement in White House race

[webfact]

Obama on board - Democrat Biden lands key endorsement in White House race

By Trevor Hunnicutt and James Oliphant

 

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (R) interjects as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a reception for the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics at the White House in Washington, October 15, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama endorsed Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee on Tuesday, breaking his silence to help his former vice president's efforts to unite the party and energize its voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

 

After staying on the sidelines as a record high number of Democratic candidates fought for the right to take on President Donald Trump, Obama gave his support to Biden in a video message.

 

“Choosing Joe to be my vice president was one of the best decisions I ever made, and he became a close friend. And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a president right now,” Obama said in the video.

 

The endorsement by the first black U.S. president came after Biden's last remaining rival in the Democratic nominating race, Senator Bernie Sanders, backed Biden on Monday.

 

The swell of support around Biden gives him a dose of energy and attention at a time when the American public is largely focused on the government response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed the presidential race out of the spotlight.

 

"Because he is so popular and the comparison between President Trump and Barack Obama is so stark, it will be such a unifying, motivating factor," said Terry McAuliffe, a former Virginia governor and longtime party official.

 

Obama had publicly remained neutral as Biden, who served him for eight years in the White House, stumbled in early 2020 Democratic nominating contests and then swept to victory in a series of primaries in March.

 

Three years after they departed the White House, Obama and his wife Michelle remain two of the most beloved figures in the Democratic Party. Trump won in 2016 vowing to reverse many of the two-term president's policies.

 

Trump's re-election campaign had painted Obama's endorsement as overdue, suggesting the former president was reluctant to back his former No. 2. But Obama had vowed to stay out of the fractious Democratic race and was only free to endorse once Sanders bowed out last week.

 

“Obama has no other choice but to support him. Even Bernie Sanders beat him to it," Brad Parscale, the Trump 2020 campaign manager, said in a statement. "Biden is a bad candidate who will embarrass himself and his party. President Trump will destroy him.”

 

Obama’s popularity within the Democratic Party could bolster Biden, particularly among demographic groups with which he has struggled. A CNN poll released when Obama left office showed more than 70% of voters under the age of 34 viewed him favorably as did 90% of self-described liberals.

 

Ben LaBolt, press secretary for Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, said while Obama can appeal to the young voters who backed Sanders, he can also perhaps return to the fold moderate voters who voted for him, but then switched to Trump in 2016.

 

He also can help Biden scale up his fund-raising efforts, as well as boost him using a dynamic social media presence with a sizable and dedicated following.

 

“There is no surrogate in the country better suited to helping Joe Biden than Barack Obama," LaBolt said.

 

LEADERSHIP IN CRISIS

The former president's support gives the green light to former Obama officials, wealthy donors and Democratic Party luminaries to enlist in Biden's cause if they have not done so already.

 

Obama said Biden had the character and experience to lead the country through its recovery from "one of our darkest times." He did not mention Trump by name nor attack him for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in keeping with the longtime tradition of a former president not criticizing the current office-holder during a crisis.

 

In the short term, that may limit Obama's effectiveness as a stand-in for Biden. More critically for the campaign, it could be weeks or even months before the two can appear together in public at a campaign rally.

 

Ultimately though, Obama likely will be able to do what he did for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, drawing large, enthusiastic crowds in the run-up to Election Day.

 

Behind the scenes, Obama had been active. He offered guidance to candidates as they were looking to get in the race and even advised a few when they were considering leaving the bruising contest to effectively hand the nomination to Biden.

 

Obama had multiple conversations in recent weeks with Sanders and others about how to best position the party for the general election matchup against Trump, sources said.

 

"He was impressed by the caliber of our candidates and the strong campaigns they waged - but always urged them to keep in mind that we must be well-positioned to unify as a party once we have a nominee," said a person familiar with Obama's interactions.

 

Obama also has advised Biden on key elements of his general election strategy, including telling him to pick a vice president who complements him.

 

While vice president, Biden was a top adviser to Obama on issues such as the economic stimulus package and the war in Afghanistan. But their political worlds were largely separate.

 

When Biden launched his campaign for president, he did so surrounded by his own long-time team of political aides and without the assistance of top Obama veterans. In recent months, that changed somewhat when the campaign brought in former Obama campaign manager Jen O’Malley Dillon to help lead the 2020 effort.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Jeff Mason and James Oliphant in Washington and Trevor Hunnicutt in New York; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-15

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[sirineou]

Putting aside politics, Republican or Democrat. I can't wait for the adults to be running the country again. 

[Crazy Alex]

I find this *endorsement* incredibly entertaining, on several fronts.

 

First and foremost, OF COURSE the last Democrat president is going to endorse the next Democrat nominee.

 

As for Obama on Biden, here is what Obama had to say about Biden running in the first place:

 

"You don't have to do this, Joe. You really don't."

 

Translation: don't do this, you <deleted> moron. But it doesn't stop there:

 

"The Times also reported that Obama met with top Biden advisers in March and, according to the sources, requested that the ex-veep’s team do what they can so that Biden does not “embarrass himself” or “damage his legacy.”

 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obama-reportedly-warned-biden-about-2020-you-dont-have-to-do-this-joe

 

Obviously, keeping Joe from embarrassing himself didn't work out. That's a matter of record. As for damaging Obama's legacy? Huh? What legacy? The weakest post-Depression recovery? A failed health care scam? Remember, Obama polled at less than 50% for virtually all of his eight years. So it's not like we're talking about a popular president.

 

Last, but certainly not least is Obama's gutlessness. There were what like 15 Democrat candidates for president this year? And Barack Obama couldn't find a single one he wanted to endorse? Really? So he stands on the sidelines instead. Yeah, that Obama is one courageous guy, right? How ironic that the LAST person Obama wanted to get the nomination is the one he ends up having to endorse. And yes, Obama pretty much HAS to endorse Joe Biden.

[Crazy Alex]

4 minutes ago, sirineou said:

Putting aside politics, Republican or Democrat. I can't wait for the adults to be running the country again. 

Again?

[sirineou]

2 minutes ago, Crazy Alex said:

Again?

Yes

[Snackbar]

What a joke, this man, Biden, guarantees another term for The Donald. 
 

How dumb are these democrats?

[simple1]

4 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

Obama polled at less than 50% for virtually all of his eight years. So it's not like we're talking about a popular president

So what does that say about trump? trump's average approval rating stands at 40%, whereas Obama averaged 49.4% during his Presidency.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_approval_rating#Historical_comparison

[Tug]

4 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

I find this *endorsement* incredibly entertaining, on several fronts.

 

First and foremost, OF COURSE the last Democrat president is going to endorse the next Democrat nominee.

 

As for Obama on Biden, here is what Obama had to say about Biden running in the first place:

 

"You don't have to do this, Joe. You really don't."

 

Translation: don't do this, you <deleted> moron. But it doesn't stop there:

 

"The Times also reported that Obama met with top Biden advisers in March and, according to the sources, requested that the ex-veep’s team do what they can so that Biden does not “embarrass himself” or “damage his legacy.”

 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obama-reportedly-warned-biden-about-2020-you-dont-have-to-do-this-joe

 

Obviously, keeping Joe from embarrassing himself didn't work out. That's a matter of record. As for damaging Obama's legacy? Huh? What legacy? The weakest post-Depression recovery? A failed health care scam? Remember, Obama polled at less than 50% for virtually all of his eight years. So it's not like we're talking about a popular president.

 

Last, but certainly not least is Obama's gutlessness. There were what like 15 Democrat candidates for president this year? And Barack Obama couldn't find a single one he wanted to endorse? Really? So he stands on the sidelines instead. Yeah, that Obama is one courageous guy, right? How ironic that the LAST person Obama wanted to get the nomination is the one he ends up having to endorse. And yes, Obama pretty much HAS to endorse Joe Biden.

Funney post first the farmers were wailing see see he’s not getting Obama’s endorsement well there’s a reason it’s really simple it’s called integrity Obama wouldent dream of influencing the nomination process its called integrity and class imo this period kinds of reminds me that after Lincoln we got a bad president now hopefully we will get a good one and keep in mind trump just got spanked in Minnesota people were so anxious to dump trumps boy they braved covid 19 just to dump him handwritings on the wall imo trumps toast

[blazes]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Ultimately though, Obama likely will be able to do what he did for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, drawing large, enthusiastic crowds in the run-up to Election Day.

 

 

Ah yes, that worked out brilliantly, didn't it.....

[Chomper Higgot]

4 hours ago, Crazy Alex said:

I find this *endorsement* incredibly entertaining, on several fronts.

 

First and foremost, OF COURSE the last Democrat president is going to endorse the next Democrat nominee.

 

As for Obama on Biden, here is what Obama had to say about Biden running in the first place:

 

"You don't have to do this, Joe. You really don't."

 

Translation: don't do this, you <deleted> moron. But it doesn't stop there:

 

"The Times also reported that Obama met with top Biden advisers in March and, according to the sources, requested that the ex-veep’s team do what they can so that Biden does not “embarrass himself” or “damage his legacy.”

 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/obama-reportedly-warned-biden-about-2020-you-dont-have-to-do-this-joe

 

Obviously, keeping Joe from embarrassing himself didn't work out. That's a matter of record. As for damaging Obama's legacy? Huh? What legacy? The weakest post-Depression recovery? A failed health care scam? Remember, Obama polled at less than 50% for virtually all of his eight years. So it's not like we're talking about a popular president.

 

Last, but certainly not least is Obama's gutlessness. There were what like 15 Democrat candidates for president this year? And Barack Obama couldn't find a single one he wanted to endorse? Really? So he stands on the sidelines instead. Yeah, that Obama is one courageous guy, right? How ironic that the LAST person Obama wanted to get the nomination is the one he ends up having to endorse. And yes, Obama pretty much HAS to endorse Joe Biden.

Let’s see if the last Republican President endorses Trump for 2020.

[blazes]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Let’s see if the last Republican President endorses Trump for 2020.

Obviously not, since Dubya belongs to the very same elite that Trump abhors.

 

Sorry if it's confusing....

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, blazes said:

Obviously not, since Dubya belongs to the very same elite that Trump abhors.

 

Sorry if it's confusing....

Classic Trump supporter doublethink.

[WalkingOrders]

If I thought Obama was a lowlife before....he just got lower. To endorse a man obviously mentally encapicitated is as low as you can go in the name of party loyalty.

[WalkingOrders]

11 minutes ago, blazes said:

Obviously not, since Dubya belongs to the very same elite that Trump abhors.

 

Sorry if it's confusing....

The nuance will be lost on most my brother, but right on point!

[Rimmer]

A troll meme has been removed

[jb61]

You have to give the democrats credit. They never stop trying.

Now they are pushing "mail-in ballots" voting. At least they are

all inclusive. This way, all the Disney cartoon characters and the

Marvel "super heroes" all get to vote this time.

[winslowsjardine]

12 minutes ago, jb61 said:

You have to give the democrats credit. They never stop trying.

Now they are pushing "mail-in ballots" voting. At least they are

all inclusive. This way, all the Disney cartoon characters and the

Marvel "super heroes" all get to vote this time.

I believe that they are called absentee ballots. And I'm pretty sure that they have always been used in every state. I don't think it's fair to make people choose between either risking their life to vote or not voting.

[Redoubt]

Isn't this a bit like being in gym class and watching what happens after all players have been selected for the teams, and the remaining kid has to be is picked?

[Nigel Garvie]

7 hours ago, sirineou said:

Yes

Well yes ......hearing Obama speak full sentences of coherent English, making good points whilst respecting convention by not attacking a current president in a crisis is refreshing. It reminds us just how bad it has got in a white house full of crooked yes men. No wonder the Trumpers hate Obama, their sad excuse for a leader can only offer up a narcissistic self obsessed deluded and garbled word salad. How acutely embarrassing for the GOP to have to defend a man without the slightest shred of human decency, when his inadequacies are highlighted by a former great president, a caring man of principle, intelligence and integrity. Oh yes he can speak normal English also, should that be so hard?

[Redoubt]

It is a fact that voter 'fraud' does occur and it is a criminal offense.  The option of 'voting by mail' is a vehicle that permits citizens to vote who may be: serving in the military; on foreign excursions; infirm; etc.

 

When these criminal perpetrators do not have to appear in person to vote fraudulently in America's polling places, the mere act of committing this crime is obviously that much easier; and thus may even be more appealing. 

 

The anticipated mass 'voting by mail' urged by the same group / Party that fights tooth and nail to enable in-person voting without any photo identification, will certainly be further enabled to increase the number of criminal fraudulent voting incidents.  

[blazes]

5 minutes ago, Nigel Garvie said:

Well yes ......hearing Obama speak full sentences of coherent English, making good points whilst respecting convention by not attacking a current president in a crisis is refreshing. It reminds us just how bad it has got in a white house full of crooked yes men. No wonder the Trumpers hate Obama, their sad excuse for a leader can only offer up a narcissistic self obsessed deluded and garbled word salad. How acutely embarrassing for the GOP to have to defend a man without the slightest shred of human decency, when his inadequacies are highlighted by a former great president, a caring man of principle, intelligence and integrity. Oh yes he can speak normal English also, should that be so hard?

 

Well, Nige, just look around you, here on TV, and see, daily, hourly, how difficult it is to "speak normal English".....or write it....

[Jingthing]

43 minutes ago, jb61 said:

You have to give the democrats credit. They never stop trying.

Now they are pushing "mail-in ballots" voting. At least they are

all inclusive. This way, all the Disney cartoon characters and the

Marvel "super heroes" all get to vote this time.

Funny how Republicans are against people voting. The more people that vote the more they lose. 

 

 

[Eric Loh]

United Shursh of American is about the best he can make out as normal. Lol

[Jingthing]

17 minutes ago, Redoubt said:

Isn't this a bit like being in gym class and watching what happens after all players have been selected for the teams, and the remaining kid has to be is picked?

Nothing like that. 

Biden was the favorite to be nominated at the start of this. 

He wasn't the strongest of front runners but he was still the front runner. 

[Isaan sailor]

OK, fine, JB got BO’s endorsement.  But honestly, can Joe Biden speak two coherent sentences in succession?

[TopDeadSenter]

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Funny how Republicans are against people voting. The more people that vote the more they lose. 

 

 

Republicans are against non-citizens voting. That is because these non-citizens tend to vote for the party that gives them the most free stuff. That is why the unelectable democrats love the idea, while honest hard working tax payers are mortified at the thought of one party promoting postal vote fraud.

[CGW]

36 minutes ago, Redoubt said:

The anticipated mass 'voting by mail' urged by the same group / Party that fights tooth and nail to enable in-person voting without any photo identification, will certainly be further enabled to increase the number of criminal fraudulent voting incidents. 

Don't they have different rules to the rest of society, or do they just change the rules as they see fit? 

[Throatwobbler]

Voter supression in the US. It is easy to see from reading this that the majority attempts at voter supression have been carried out by the Republicans to stop core groups of Democrat voters being able to vote. I am sure the Trump supporters and Republicans will try and dispute this but facts are facts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_suppression_in_the_United_States

[CGW]

3 minutes ago, Throatwobbler said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_suppression_in_the_United_States

You consider this link pertinent and correct? makes me question your statement when you use such poor proof to back up your "claim"

[earlinclaifornia]

4 hours ago, simple1 said:

So what does that say about trump? trump's average approval rating stands at 40%, whereas Obama averaged 49.4% during his Presidency.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_approval_rating#Historical_comparison

https://news.gallup.com/interactives/185273/presidential-job-approval-center.aspx?g_source=link_newsv9&g_campaign=item_245606&g_medium=copy