At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, former President Barack Obama praised President Biden, emphasizing the strong bond they formed during their eight years in office. Obama lauded Biden’s empathy, decency, and resilience, describing him as an outstanding president who defended democracy during challenging times. Despite recent reports of Obama helping to oust Biden from his re-election bid, Obama expressed pride in calling Biden both his president and friend.
Biden’s withdrawal from the race followed a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump, which raised concerns about his mental acuity and age. This performance led to growing pressure from both traditional Democratic allies and the media for Biden to step aside. Ultimately, Biden announced via Twitter that he would end his campaign, focusing on his final months in office.
Obama allies played a significant role in encouraging Biden to drop out of the race. Figures like David Axelrod and George Clooney publicly voiced their concerns, with Clooney even writing an op-ed urging Biden to step down. Jon Favreau, another close Obama associate, also supported this sentiment, attending a fundraiser where he observed Biden’s mental state firsthand.
Kamala Harris and Joe Biden
During Obama’s speech at the DNC, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz were notably absent, holding a rally in Milwaukee. Their absence was reportedly to avoid the optics of Harris appearing alongside figures Biden views as instrumental in ending his re-election bid. A source suggested that the Obamas are not on good terms with the current White House.
Harris has a limited time to rally support for her presidential run and has brought several Obama allies, including David Plouffe and Eric Holder, into her campaign. Harris and Obama share a long-standing relationship dating back to the early 2000s, with Harris being an early supporter of Obama’s 2008 presidential bid.
Obama praised Harris’ legal and political career during his speech, highlighting her efforts as a prosecutor and attorney general in California. He expressed confidence in her ability to prioritize the needs of all Americans as president and emphasized that she would be well-partnered with Governor Tim Walz in the White House.
Obama also took the opportunity to criticize former President Donald Trump, portraying him as power-hungry and indifferent to the needs of the middle class, women, and immigrants. He accused Trump of seeking to divide the country and prioritizing his own interests over those of the American people.
Harris is expected to deliver her acceptance speech for the Democratic Party’s nomination at the DNC on Thursday, marking a pivotal moment in her campaign as she seeks to unite the party and the country behind her candidacy.
