Former President Barack Obama has refrained from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential bid, citing doubts about her ability to defeat Republican rival Donald Trump, according to a source close to the Biden family.
Following President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the presidential race at the age of 81 and his immediate endorsement of Harris, most Democratic leaders quickly rallied behind her candidacy. However, the 44th President’s notable absence in endorsing Harris has raised eyebrows within the party.
“Obama’s very upset because he knows she can’t win,” the Biden family source revealed to the New York Post. “Obama knows she’s just incompetent—the border czar who’s never visited the border, advocating that all migrants should have health insurance. She’s not equipped to navigate the challenges ahead.”
Biden’s decision to step down reportedly came after a widely criticized debate performance against Trump in Atlanta last month, an event said to have been orchestrated to push him out of the race. The source expressed skepticism about Harris’s ability to handle a televised debate against Trump, predicting potential missteps on issues like Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine. “She can’t debate. She’s going to put her foot in her mouth,” the source claimed.
According to the source, Obama initially hoped to facilitate Biden’s exit, a strategy reinforced by an article from actor George Clooney urging Biden to step aside. However, Biden’s swift endorsement of Harris reportedly caught Obama by surprise. Post-Biden, Obama was said to favor Arizona Senator Mark Kelly as a potential top candidate for the Democratic National Convention next month.
“Obama is furious that things haven’t gone his way, which is why he hasn’t joined the Democratic Party’s support for Harris,” the Biden source added. Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, now supporting Trump, claimed that without Obama’s influence, Biden would likely still be the Democratic nominee.
Despite Obama’s reservations, Kamala Harris secured the support of a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention on Monday, likely ensuring her nomination as the party’s presidential candidate next month. Amid ongoing questions about his age and health, Biden pledged to remain in office until his term ends on January 20, 2025.
An Associated Press survey of delegates revealed Harris had the support of 2,538 delegates, well beyond the 1,976 needed to win the delegate vote in the coming weeks. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison announced on Monday that the party will finalize their presidential nominee by August 7, although delegates could still change their minds before then.
