In the wake of President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw his reelection bid, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the Democratic Party's new torchbearer.
However, former President Barack Obama's conspicuous silence on endorsing Harris has sparked speculation about his confidence in her ability to defeat Donald Trump. An insider close to the Biden family has reportedly claimed that Obama harbors doubts about Harris's competency and her chances of winning the presidency.
The Democratic Party delegates, in a majority, rallied behind Harris on Monday, following Biden's announcement of his withdrawal from the race. High-profile Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsom, were quick to express their public support for Harris. However, Obama's endorsement remains notably absent, leading to speculation about his stance on Harris's candidacy.
According to the New York Post, a source close to the Biden family has revealed that Obama is "very upset" about Harris's candidacy, going as far as to claim that he "knows she can't win" against Trump. The insider further alleged that Obama perceives Harris as "incompetent" and incapable of navigating the political landmines that lie ahead.
However, as reported by the Daily Mail, other Democrats have claimed that Obama has privately expressed full support for Harris's candidacy and has been in regular contact with her throughout the week. They assert that Obama believes Harris's campaign is progressing well and that he is likely to publicly endorse her soon.
NBC has reported that aides for Harris and Obama have been discussing the possibility of the two appearing together on the campaign trail. This report follows a call between Obama and Harris on Sunday, after Biden ended his bid for the White House and swiftly threw his support behind the Vice President, his 2024 running mate.
In a statement, Obama praised Biden and the process for selecting a new Democratic nominee, stating, "We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges." However, his statement did not include an endorsement for Harris.
The New York Post's source alleges that Obama was "shocked" by Biden's swift endorsement of Harris and is "furious" about the situation. The insider claims that Obama views Harris as "incompetent" and incapable of navigating the political challenges that lie ahead, citing her role as the "border czar who never visited the border" and her stance on migrant health insurance.
The source also suggested that Obama would prefer to see Arizona senator and former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly at the top of the Democratic ticket at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
However, those close to Obama have countered these claims, stating that he views himself as a "resource" and "sounding board" for Harris, who has "taken on a lot in a very short time," according to NBC. They also reported that Obama plans to join Harris on the campaign trail, although no date has been set.
Obama's senior adviser Eric Schultz told NBC that the former President "looks forward to helping Democrats up and down the ballot make the case to voters this fall." He added that Obama aims to "unify his party" and plans to use a strategy focused on "driving impact, especially where and when his voice can move the needle."
Obama and Harris have a longstanding relationship, with Harris having been an early supporter of Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and given a speaking role at his 2012 nominating convention. Obama has also previously endorsed Harris in her campaigns for attorney general in California and her bid for the Senate in 2016.
Login