Former President Barack Obama has reportedly confided to allies that Biden’s weak performance in last week’s debate will make it more difficult for him to win the presidential election in November.
Obama, 62, already thought the former vice president’s road to reelection would be tough, but Biden’s Election Day prospects seem even more uncertain. The Washington Post reported. He said Tuesday, citing several people with knowledge of his remarks who contacted Democrats.
The outlet reported that the 44th president reached out to the 81-year-old Biden after last week’s debate, offering to sit down and offer advice as the 2024 election campaign heats up.
President Obama’s office did not respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
A Biden campaign spokesman told The Washington Post that the president is “grateful” for his former boss’ “unwavering support.”
Obama has publicly acknowledged that Biden’s first of two planned showdowns with former President Donald Trump in 2024 ended poorly, but has not commented, at least publicly, on how the dismal performance has affected the race.
“Debate nights can be the worst, believe me, I know,” he wrote to X last Friday, urging voters to support the former vice president over the 78-year-old presumptive Republican nominee.
“[T]”His election is a choice between someone who has spent his whole life fighting for ordinary people and someone who only thinks about himself,” Obama argued.
“There’s a gulf between someone who tells the truth, knows right from wrong, and is honest with the American people, and someone who lies for their own gain.”
“Last night was no different. That’s why so much is at stake in November.”
The Washington Post noted that former President Obama had long been concerned about Biden’s chances of beating Trump, reporting that he had repeatedly warned Biden in recent months about how difficult it would be for him to win a second term.
He also expressed concern to allies just before the debate about the state of the race.
The report noted that President Obama has not yet reached the conclusion that Biden should drop out of the race.
The former president has attended two campaign fundraisers with Biden in recent months in Los Angeles and New York City, which together raised more than $55 million for the campaign.
