Obama and Biden have been attached at the hip lately. We finally know why.
And Barack Obama just took over the White House for one insane reason.
Former President Obama is once again stepping in to rescue President Biden’s struggling re-election campaign, apparently setting aside the concerns he had about Biden’s candidacy in 2020.
Biden’s rematch with former President Trump features another high-profile intervention from Obama, whose star power and connections with Democratic donors have become a financial and public relations crutch for Biden. The president is facing increasing questions about his record, plans, and cognitive abilities.
“I take great pride in what the Biden administration has accomplished,” Obama said during a recent event with Biden and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
“And it’s a reminder that we don’t have to just vote against something in this election. We have somebody to worry about. And there’s a whole agenda that we should be concerned about.”
He continued, “But we can take pride in affirming the extraordinary work that Joe has done. And we want to make sure that we build on that and then pass it on to the next president rather than have a president who wants to reverse the progress that has been made.”
Obama’s remarks came during a lavish fundraising event where the Biden campaign raised an astonishing $30 million, with Hollywood stars like George Clooney and Julia Roberts rallying for the embattled 46th president. This amount shattered previous Democratic fundraising records.
Biden is preparing for a tough rematch against Trump this year, with polling showing Biden with only a two-point lead over Trump, well within the margin of error.
In April last year, Biden declared he would “finish the job” and run for re-election, followed by a series of high-profile fundraising events featuring Hollywood elites and Obama.
Obama’s appearance in Los Angeles this month was not the first time his attendance brought in millions for Biden. The 44th president and former President Bill Clinton joined Biden at Radio City Music Hall in New York in March for another star-studded fundraiser hosted by actress Mindy Kaling. Late-night host Stephen Colbert moderated a conversation with Biden, Obama, and Clinton, while special guests like Queen Latifah, Lizzo, and Ben Platt also appeared.
That event pulled in more than $26 million, according to the campaign.
Obama has also recorded campaign videos with Biden this election cycle and consulted with Biden on campaign strategy heading into 2024, according to various media reports.
Obama’s fundraising efforts this year mirror his actions in 2020 when he stepped in to bolster Biden, including an $11 million fundraiser that was their first joint event since the Obama administration. Obama campaigned for Biden ahead of Election Day, delivering harsh criticisms of Trump.
“Trump cares about feeding his ego. Joe cares about keeping you and your family safe,” Obama said in Flint, Michigan, just days before the 2020 election.
Obama added, “He’s still worried about his inauguration crowd being smaller than mine. It really bugs him. He’s still talking about that. Does he have nothing better to worry about? Did no one come to his birthday party as a kid? Was he traumatized?”
However, before endorsing Biden, Obama reportedly cautioned him against running, fearing it could “damage his legacy,” according to a 2019 New York Times report.
“You don’t have to do this, Joe, you really don’t,” Obama reportedly told Biden. “Win or lose, they needed to make sure Mr. Biden did not ‘embarrass himself’ or ‘damage his legacy’ during the campaign,” the New York Times reported, citing two sources familiar with the conversation.
Obama remained noncommittal for a long time about who he would endorse, initially saying he would not back anyone during the primary. As Democratic contenders like Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out, Obama finally endorsed Biden in August 2020.
Obama said in a video at the time that “Joe has all the qualities we need in a president right now,” noting that choosing him as his running mate in both the 2008 and 2012 elections was “one of the best decisions I ever made.”
Even the process by which Obama chose Biden as his vice presidential pick had a rocky start. Biden made several gaffes before becoming Obama’s running mate, including a 2007 comment describing Obama as “the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”
Despite Biden’s comment, he and Obama eventually developed a strong professional relationship, leading to Biden being selected as Obama’s VP.
Obama’s continued support is critical for Biden’s campaign, especially as recent donation data shows Trump closing the fundraising gap.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
