Obama Warned Biden about Presidential Bid: ‘You Don’t Have to Do This, Joe’

Former President Barack Obama reportedly wasn’t particularly sold on the idea of Joe Biden, his vice president for eight years, mounting his own bid for the White House in 2020.

“You don’t have to do this, Joe, you really don’t,” Obama told Biden before the 76-year-old formally launched his campaign in April, according to the New York Times.

“Mr. Biden — who thinks he could have defeated Donald Trump four years ago — responded by telling Mr. Obama he could never forgive himself if he turned down a second shot at Mr. Trump,” the Times reports. . .

Biden famously failed to lock down Obama’s endorsement upon entering the race, though his former boss did issues a statement saying choosing the then-senator as his running mate in 2008 was “one of the best decisions he ever made” and still remain close friends.

Biden, the 2020 Democrat frontrunner among a crowded primary field, has seen his poll numbers after bruising clashes with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) in the first presidential debate over his past remarks about bussing. Notably, former first lady Michelle Obama refused to defend Biden as the former vice president found himself in hot water for his position on busing and his recent praise of segregationists. A series of gaffes by the former vice president has also hurt his standing among voters, reportedly prompting his advisers to discuss possibly scaling back his public appearances to prevent more embarrassing moments. (Read more from “Obama Warned Biden about Presidential Bid: ‘You Don’t Have to Do This, Joe'” HERE)

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