It is an unenviable position to be the one to deliver bad news. Still, former President Barack Obama is stepping up as the latest Biden ally to proffer his advice to the President’s advisors concerning Biden’s electoral prospects in November’s election.
Obama’s Advice to Biden’s Allies
Obama has spoken to Biden’s allies, reportedly stating that Biden’s electability is unrecoverably diminished and that Obama believes Biden should consider whether his candidacy continues to be viable.
Limited Direct Contact with Biden
Obama has not confronted Biden with the perceived reality and has only spoken directly with Biden once since Biden flubbed the first Presidential debate in June.
Echoing Other Top Democrats
In other conversations, Obama has echoed many other top Democrats, such as Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, saying that Biden’s decision to run or step aside is a decision only Biden can make.
Protecting Biden’s Legacy
According to sources reported by the Washington Post, Obama’s interest in the dilemma is to protect President Biden’s legacy. Obama feels concern and responsibility for Biden, who served as his Vice President for eight years.
Obama’s Limited Influence
Obama has been dismissive of the idea that he can shape or influence Biden’s decision to continue his campaign or hand it off to another able Democrat.
Frequent Communication with Democrats
While Obama has not publicly commented on Biden’s continued candidacy or stated his opinion on what should happen next, he has been in close and frequent communication with Democratic movers and shakers.
Phone Conversations with Key Democrats
He has reportedly had many phone conversations with Democrats, such as Nancy Pelosi, where they discussed the current challenges with President Biden and the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election.
Obama as a Sounding Board
This reveals Obama’s role more as a sounding board rather than as a political operative. He is as interested in protecting his former Vice President and his accomplishments as he is in achieving a technical electoral advantage.
However, the overall mission remains clear—to keep a Democrat in the White House. It would simply be more beneficial not to have the collateral damage of injuring Biden or tarnishing his legacy.
Concerns About Biden’s Campaign
While Obama sees the matter in personal terms due to his long relationship with the elder statesman, he has also warned allies that as Biden continues to alienate himself from voters, Trump gains an advantage in the polls, and donors start to abandon what they see as a losing Biden campaign.
Biden Campaign’s Defiance
As recently as Thursday, the Biden campaign has remained defiant despite soft and demanding calls to drop out of the race. Campaign manager Quentin Fulks said, “He is not wavering on anything. The President has made his decision. I don’t want to be rude, but I don’t know how many more times we can answer that.”
Biden’s Current Situation
This statement comes after Biden was diagnosed Wednesday with COVID and cut short his campaign events to heal and quarantine in his Delaware vacation home.
Relying on Elite Democratic Decision-Makers
With Biden out of reach and unwavering in his decision to continue his candidacy, Democratic activists, donors, and less influential elected officials are relying on a small group of elite Democratic decision-makers to convince Biden to step aside in favor of a more capable candidate.
Efforts of Key Democratic Leaders
These lawmakers, activists, and donors are relying on the efforts of House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Pelosi to help Biden make a decision that would best serve various Democratic interests.
