Numerous prominent figures in the Democratic Party quickly rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, yet one notable absence was former President Barack Obama.
Obama has not endorsed Harris and did not mention her in his thoughtful and concise tribute to President Joe Biden, published on Medium shortly after Biden announced his decision to step down.
“Joe Biden has been one of America’s most impactful presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me,” wrote Obama, who had chosen Biden as his running mate in 2008 for his experience and lack of future presidential ambitions.
“We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead,” Obama wrote. “But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
Republicans viewed this as a snub, but those close to Obama, who has taken on the role of an impartial elder statesman, advised not to overinterpret his silence. They stated that Obama had no alternative candidate in mind when he decided not to endorse Harris immediately.
Obama maintained a similar stance four years ago when Biden’s team urged him to endorse early in the primaries before Senator Bernie Sanders dropped out. Obama’s favored phrase back then was, “I don’t want to thumb the scale.” Endorsing too early now could be seen as politically unwise, as it might suggest that Harris’ potential nomination was a coronation rather than a well-considered consensus, they noted.
Obama sees his role as helping to swiftly unite the party once a nominee is chosen, according to someone familiar with his thinking.
There are also personal considerations that influence Obama’s cautious approach. Biden, a deeply prideful individual, has never fully forgiven Obama for quietly supporting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 campaign, believing he could have beaten former President Donald Trump if given the chance. Biden was also displeased when Obama suggested he consider sitting out the 2020 race.
Obama wanted Sunday to focus on celebrating Biden’s accomplishments and does not feel rushed to make any hasty decisions, according to a former White House official who regularly communicates with him.
