Barack Obama Refuses to Endorse Kamala Harris as 2024 Nominee

Sunday saw a stampede of prominent Democrats rallying around Vice President Kamala Harris, but one giant and majorly influential figure in the party refrained— Barack Obama.

The former president has not yet endorsed Harris, and in his loving, albeit tensely worded, homage to President Biden, published soon after he chose to step down on Sunday, he made not a single mention of her.

Obama claimed that Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents and a dear friend and partner of his.

Biden was selected by Obama as his running mate in 2008 due to his maturity, experience, and lack of presidential aspirations. (Cynically, many at the time joked that Biden’s choice was “insurance” that Obama remained safe from harm or impeachment. Biden had already ended a presidential bid in disgrace in 1988 due to  plagiarism and lying about his academic accomplishments.)

In his message, Obama warned that the days ahead would be filled with uncertainty, adding that he is confident that his party’s leaders can establish a procedure that yields a remarkable nominee.

Many speculate that his wife, Michelle, still may run.

The Republican Party saw Obama’s letter as an insult since Harris is the entitled successor.

When Senator Bernie Sanders pulled out of the race four years ago during the Democratic primary, Obama took the same position. A popular expression for Obama around that time was that he didn’t want to “thumb the scales.”

It’s been said that Biden’s egotism has kept him from forgiving President Obama for secretly supporting Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. If given the opportunity, Biden continues to think he could have defeated then-President Donald J. Trump that year.

According to many in Biden’s inner circle, he was also not happy when Obama suggested that he consider skipping 2020.

Obama famously ignored Biden at gatherings at the White House, often leaving Biden, the president, looking foolish.