Former US President Barack Obama told his allies in the Democratic Party in recent days that President Joe Biden’s chance for re-election in the November elections has significantly decreased. According to Obama, Biden must consider the viability of his candidacy. The American newspaper The Washington Post (WP) wrote about it on Thursday, citing several sources familiar with Obama’s thoughts.
Photo: SITA/AP, Alex Brandon
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with former President Barack Obama during a debate hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Peacock Theater, Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Obama has spoken to Biden only once since an inconclusive debate with Republican nominee Donald Trump, and has made it clear that the decision to run in November’s presidential election is up to the sitting president.
Behind the scenes, according to unnamed WP sources, the Democratic ex-president spoke extensively about the future of Biden’s candidacy with several concerned members of the Democratic Party, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Obama claimed in those conversations that he was trying to protect Biden and his legacy and achievements, which could be in jeopardy if the White House and both houses of the US Congress were controlled by Republicans. At the same time, he objected to the idea that he could influence Biden’s decision-making.
Behind the scenes, Obama reportedly expressed concern that the polls were shifting away from Biden and campaign donors were abandoning him, while Trump’s prospects for victory were increasing.
Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president from 2009 to 2017, has said several times since the failed June debate with Trump that he has no intention of withdrawing his candidacy. He claimed he was best positioned to defeat his Republican opponent. However, the incumbent president was forced to interrupt his election campaign program on Wednesday due to a positive test result for the disease COVID-19.
The latest poll, conducted by the US Center for Public Affairs Research of the NORC institute and the Associated Press (AP), showed that almost two-thirds of American Democrats want Biden to withdraw his re-candidacy for the presidency and thus allow the Democratic Party to nominate another candidate.
Source: spravy.pravda.sk
