Former President Barack Obama issued a rare public statement about the 2020 race, lavishing praise on his former vice president, Joe Biden, who officially launched his campaign on April 25.
“He relied on the vice president’s knowledge, insight, and judgment throughout both campaigns and the entire presidency. The two forged a special bond over the last 10 years and remain close today.”
However, despite his laudatory remarks, the former president stopped short of officially endorsing Biden. Obama didn’t endorse a candidate in the 2016 race despite his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton being in the race.
“It’s time for equal opportunity, equal rights, and equal justice. It’s time for an economy that rewards those who actually do the work. It’s time for a president who will stand up for all of us,” the 76-year-old wrote.
Meanwhile, Politico reported that Obama has met with several presidential candidates and offered his advice, but he hasn’t made any endorsement.
Former Obama adviser David Axelrod claimed that it’s not worth looking into Obama’s lack of endorsements.
“The custom for former presidents is not to endorse presidents. The expectation that he would, I find kind of baffling,” Axelrod was quoted by the political news website as saying.
Trump Welcomes Biden
President Donald Trump welcomed Biden, whom he dubbed “Sleepy Joe,” to the race and insulted his intelligence.Trump didn’t make any references to the allegations of sexual misconduct that are plaguing the former vice president
Trump later sent a tweet to GOP chair Ronna McDaniel, who said that Biden in eight years, “had a net loss of 193,000 manufacturing jobs.”
“Don’t let Biden take us backwards!” she replied.
“Biden literally can’t hide from the economic successes” of President Trump, McDaniel said on Twitter, adding, “Biden chose Pennsylvania to launch his campaign – a state where the unemployment rate just dropped to the lowest level *ever recorded.*”
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