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Joe Biden finally got that elusive endorsement from former President Barack Obama who formally threw his support behind the 2020 Democratic candidate in a video message.
Obama announced his endorsement of his former vice president in the over-12-minute video message posted Tuesday, saying he is sure Biden is the right man for the job as the country faces a moment of “great crisis” while even reaching out to supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Opening with a message to Americans suffering from the coronavirus pandemic, the former president called on everyone to “be there” for each other know they are “not alone.”
“If there’s one thing we’ve learned as a country from moments of great crisis, it’s that the spirit of looking out for one another can’t be restricted to our homes, or our workplaces, or our neighborhoods, or our houses of worship. It also has to be reflected in our national government,” Obama said.
“The kind of leadership that’s guided by knowledge and experience, honesty and humility, empathy and grace — that kind of leadership doesn’t just belong in our state capitols and mayors offices. It belongs in the White House,” the former president continued.
“And that’s why I’m so proud to endorse Joe Biden for President of the United States,” he added.
For all of us who love this country and are willing to do our part to make sure it lives up to its highest ideals – now’s the time to fight for what we believe in. Join us at https://t.co/Kboaxi3MVL. And I’ll see you on the campaign trail as soon as I can.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 14, 2020
Obama’s re-emergence onto the political scene came after he declined to endorse his former running mate during the primary contest, and followed on the heels of an endorsement from Sanders who ended his own campaign last week.
Biden has repeatedly made reference to Obama during his campaign, often calling him by his first name, and touring their friendship and eight years of service together in an effort to attract voters.
The 77-year-old thanked Obama for his message and his coveted endorsement on Tuesday.
“Barack — This endorsement means the world to Jill and me,” Biden tweeted. “We’re going to build on the progress we made together, and there’s no one I’d rather have standing by my side.”
Obama made an appeal to Sanders supporters to embrace Biden’s candidacy. while actually praising the Vermont senator and his progressive ideals.
“Bernie’s an American original — a man who has devoted his life to giving voice to working people’s hopes, dreams, and frustrations. He and I haven’t always agreed on everything, but we’ve always shared a conviction that we have to make America a fairer, more just, more equitable society,” Obama said.
Reaction to the announcement from all sides was swift, with the predictable party poppers going off from Democrats and liberals happy to see Obama back in the spotlight.
DREAM TEAM ONCE AGAIN LETS GO pic.twitter.com/yLc44UMt4C
— Nathaniel #purplewaveUSA 💜🌊 (@NewGopforUSA) April 14, 2020
Let’s Do This!#RidingWithBiden#JoeBiden2020 pic.twitter.com/BLlbwTQyaN
— WTFGOP? #RidinWithBiden (@DogginTrump) April 14, 2020
But many others pointed out the elephant in the room.
Barack Obama waited until there was literally no one else left in the race to endorse his own VP that he had for 8 years. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about Joe Biden’s capabilities, I don’t know what to tell you.
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 14, 2020
“So proud you waited a year, until everything was over,” Ben Shapiro tweeted.
“Obama finally endorses the man he worked with for eight years after there’s no one else left for him to endorse,” Dan Bongino added in a tweet.
When there are literally no other options left… pic.twitter.com/Kmx3NKCv2M
— Abigail Marone (@abigailmarone) April 14, 2020
Obama “spent much of the last five years urging Joe Biden not to run for president out of fear that he would embarrass himself,” and now “has no other choice but to support him,” President Trump’s reelection campaign manager, Brad Parscale, said in a statement.
I’m old enough to remember when Barack Obama “actively tried to discourage” Joe Biden from running for president “to make sure Biden didn’t embarrass himself.”pic.twitter.com/lAeTWhhLtN
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) April 14, 2020
“Obama was right in the first place: Biden is a bad candidate who will embarrass himself and his party,” Parscale added. “President Trump will destroy him.”
https://twitter.com/TeamTrump/status/1250083226087051267
Other reactions also poured in on Twitter.
Throughout the primary, Obama made clear he thought Dems could do better than Joe Biden.
Obama’s reluctant endorsement along with Bernie’s own reluctance to support Biden shows that Dems know Biden is a weak candidate.
— Brenda Smith (@brenda_smith09) April 14, 2020
When you realize you’re going to be forced to endorse Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/2c4QokTiJD
— Abigail Marone (@abigailmarone) April 14, 2020
BREAKING: Fmr Pres Obama to endorse Joe Biden for President.
Here is Biden trying to figure out why Obama isn’t endorsing his senate race.pic.twitter.com/ZUgUc92l8O
— Carpe Donktum🔹 (@CarpeDonktum) April 14, 2020
So former President Barack Obama has to endorse Joe Biden who can’t complete a sentence because …
he has no other option to pick from.
Must suck to be Obama today.
— Kambree (@KamVTV) April 14, 2020
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