Obama’s Strategist Reflects on Biden’s 2016 Decision

David Plouffe, a key strategist for former President Barack Obama, recently expressed regret over not fully supporting then-Vice President Joe Biden’s decision to run in the 2016 presidential election. This reflection came during an interview at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, where he recalled the conversations about Biden’s possible candidacy.

At that time, Biden was dealing with the loss of his son, Beau, and was quite distanced from contenders like Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Plouffe, tasked with the uncomfortable job of breaking the news to Biden, recalled telling him, “Listen, I’m worried about you as a human being. You might not be in a position to run.” He hesitated, recognizing the complex emotional state Biden was in. He continued, “There’s no room for you,” emphasizing the uphill battle Biden would face in critical primaries like Iowa and New Hampshire, where he didn’t stand much of a chance.

“Hillary is going to clean up,” Plouffe noted at the time, suggesting that both Clinton and Sanders would dominate the field. He emphasized that even if voters had concerns about Clinton, she had an established base that Biden couldn’t penetrate.

Plouffe shared how Biden sometimes expressed frustration toward those around him, particularly when donors encouraged him to run. “It was just a couple of guys in California,” he mentioned, noting that those influences weren’t a cohesive campaign. Despite understanding the challenges, Biden’s supporters seemed to be caught up in the excitement, which only added to the confusion.

In hindsight, Plouffe observed, “Biden’s career felt over. He was already clear about not running, even before his son’s passing.” However, as circumstances changed, the situation shifted dramatically for Biden. He added, “We had two strong candidates already, making it difficult for him, especially with voters who typically aligned with him being split between Sanders and Clinton.”

Reflecting on the current political landscape, Plouffe warned that Biden does have his challenges against President Donald Trump. However, he felt that he lacked the trust and character issues that Clinton faced. “While Biden may have outperformed her in certain areas, the path forward just wasn’t there.”

Additionally, Plouffe noted discontent among Democratic voters regarding how Kamala Harris was positioned in the 2024 race, hinting that her nomination might not have come through the necessary primary process. This left a sense of unease among some party members. “This really bothered voters more than I expected,” he said, highlighting that such tactics risked undermining trust in the party’s ability to handle the challenges posed by Trump.

Ultimately, Plouffe asserted that every Democrat should recognize the missteps in the vetting process and advocate for a future approach that prioritizes genuine voter choice in candidates. “We should never have a candidate that isn’t properly vetted by the voters,” he concluded.