A central feature of former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign is his penchant for reminding everyone that he served as wingman to the first black president, Barack Obama. Yet, for all of the professed admiration and camaraderie, Obama has noticeably declined to support Biden’s candidacy.
A new book documenting the “partnership” in the White House between Obama and Biden offers up a possible reason for that lack of an endorsement, namely, Obama’s desire to see his legacy of political change carried on by someone other than an aging, white, career politician.
Protecting his legacy
The Daily Mail reported on several interesting anecdotes regarding the “bromance” between Obama and Biden that didn’t really blossom until Obama had emerged victorious over both Biden and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primary, at which time Biden was asked to serve as Obama’s running mate for the general election.
Those tidbits come from a book called “Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership” by Steven Levingston, nonfiction editor at The Washington Post and author of other books about presidencies, including that of John F. Kennedy.
Levingston wrote that Obama chose to back Clinton over Biden in 2016 due to his concerns over what a Republican victory would mean for his legacy and his belief that Clinton would defeat whomever happened to run against her.
“Joe, despite his many virtues, was just another white guy, one in a long line of American presidents — hardly the symbol of the Teutonic [sic] change that Obama hoped would mark his place in the history books,” Levingston wrote.
“Barack had placed his bet on Hillary, the one he believed would confirm his revolutionary stamp on American’s political culture — the first black president passing the baton to the first woman president,” he added.
Withholding support
Obama apparently remains convinced that Biden is incapable of continuing the political sea change he believes his presidency embodied, and this reportedly has also played a role in his decision to refrain from endorsing Biden in the 2020 election cycle.
Instead, Obama has publicly called for “new blood” in the leadership of the Democratic Party and is known to have met with and advised several other Democratic candidates in the current primary season.
That, on top of not receiving an endorsement from his supposedly close friend, has been a stinging blow for Biden, who has had his eye on the Oval Office since the 1980s.
Somewhat humorous in all of this is Biden’s implausible claim that he never actually sought an endorsement from Obama and intended to win the nomination on his own merits, something which seems to stand in conflict with his stories of their close friendship and ongoing mutual support.
Given that the race is still in its relatively early stages, it remains to be seen which Democrat candidate Obama will ultimately endorse this time around, or if Biden will even still be in the running once it comes time for the former president to weigh in on the matter.
834 Responses
Your style is really unique compared to other people I’ve read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just bookmark this web site.
Qué maravilla de artículo.
I must thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this blog. I am hoping to see the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own website now 😉
Lo voy a mandar a compañeros.
This page really has all the info I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Hi, I do think this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to revisit yet again since i have book marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.
Qué maravilla de artículo.
Lo voy a mandar a compañeros.
Lo voy a mandar a compañeros.
Qué maravilla de artículo.
Howdy! This article couldn’t be written any better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I am going to send this information to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a good read. I appreciate you for sharing!
That is a great tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere. Short but very accurate information… Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read post!
I blog quite often and I genuinely thank you for your content. This article has really peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your blog and keep checking for new details about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.
I really like it when people get together and share ideas. Great blog, continue the good work!
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited your blog before but after browsing through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely happy I discovered it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon everyday. It will always be helpful to read content from other writers and practice something from their sites.
Lo mejor que leí hoy.
Lo mejor que leí hoy.
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been doing a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me lunch because I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this issue here on your web site.
Hello, I do think your website might be having browser compatibility problems. Whenever I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Apart from that, wonderful site!
You must take part in a contest for among the finest blogs on the web. I’ll suggest this site!
Hello.This post was extremely motivating, particularly because I was searching for thoughts on this topic last Wednesday.
Does your website have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some suggestions for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it develop over time.
After looking into a few of the articles on your website, I truly appreciate your way of blogging. I book marked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my website too and let me know what you think.
Thanks , I have just been looking for info about this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered so far. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?
Great post and right to the point. I don’t know if this is truly the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to hire some professional writers? Thx 🙂
The next time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I mean, I do know it was my option to learn, but I actually thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you can fix for those who werent too busy looking for attention.
A person essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Excellent job!
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
I carry on listening to the news broadcast talk about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the top site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i acquire some?
Someone necessarily help to make severely posts I would state. That is the very first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to make this actual post amazing. Fantastic job!
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve visited this web site before but after going through some of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m certainly pleased I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!
Hi there! This blog post couldn’t be written much better! Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Many thanks, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anybody else having similar RSS problems? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
I am so grateful for your article post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
There’s certainly a lot to find out about this topic. I love all of the points you made.
I think this is a real great post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
I could not resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
Greetings! Very helpful advice in this particular article! It’s the little changes that make the greatest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
You have made some good points there. I looked on the web for more information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.