Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 11:27 am

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Former President Obama issued a warm statement about Joe Biden entering the presidential race that wasn’t an endorsement but was something Obama hasn’t done for other 2020 Democrats.

Obama’s First Statement On 2020

“President Obama has long said that selecting Joe Biden as his running mate in 2008 was one of the best decisions he ever made,” Obama spokeswoman Katie Hill said in a statement. “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 ten years and remain close today.”

Obama won’t endorse in the Democratic primary

Barack Obama won’t endorse any candidate in the Democratic primary. His statement about Biden was fitting. It highlighted their close personal and working relationship. It would have been awkward and sent the wrong message if Obama said nothing about his former VP’s entry into the race, so the former president had to walk the fine line of respecting Biden’s contributions to his administration while not endorsing him.

Biden isn’t the heir to Obama. The Democratic Party shouldn’t be looking for someone to inherit the Obama mantle. Barack Obama is a generational political talent. None of the candidates running for the Democratic nomination in 2020 possess Obama’s gifts. Obama was a unique candidate, and Democrats should be focused on finding the next candidate to defeat Trump and lead them into the future.

Joe Biden might be that candidate, but he will have to prove himself. Obama won’t be playing king or queen maker in the Democratic primary.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association