Obama Endorses Democrat Biden's 2020 US Presidential Campaign

Former US President Barack Obama eventually backed his Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign on Tuesday in an attempt to get the Democratic Party back in anticipation of the polls.

While a record-high number of Democratic contenders competed for the opportunity to challenge President Donald Trump in the Nov 3 race, Obama offered his endorsement to Biden in a video shared online.

“Choosing Joe to be my vice president was one of the best decisions I ever made and he became a close friend. And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a president right now,” Obama said in the video.

The endorsement by the first black US president came after Biden's last remaining rival in the Democratic nominating race, Senator Bernie Sanders, backed Biden on Monday.

Obama had publicly remained neutral as Biden, who served him for eight years in the White House, at first struggled to impose himself on the 2020 Democratic race then swept to victory in a series of primaries in March.

Obama "is a uniting partner in helping bridge this party after an intense primary and paving the road ahead," said Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright.

Three years since entering the White House, Barack Obama and his partner, Michelle, are two of the most famous leaders of the Democratic Party. Trump elected in 2016, pledging to undo much of the two-term president's initiatives.

Obama's support inside the Democratic Party might boost Biden, especially within the demographic groups he has struggled with. The CNN poll published as Obama left office found that more than 70 percent of people under the age of 34 regarded him positively as did 90 percent of self-described liberals.

"Because he is so popular and the comparison between President Trump and Barack Obama is so stark, it will be such a unifying, motivating factor," said Terry McAuliffe, a former Virginia governor, and longtime party official.

The former president's support also gives Biden access to a network of donors and other allies, some of whom were initially cool to the former vice president.

“If in fact, I win, get ready to suit up,” Biden told a group of former Obama officials at a fundraiser in Washington in November.

Source: CNN