Former President Barack Obama actively worked behind the scenes to prevent Vice President Kamala Harris from securing the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, according to revelations in Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes’s upcoming book, “FIGHT: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House.”
Allen, a senior reporter with NBC News, disclosed during an MSNBC interview that Obama doubted Harris’s electability and advocated for an open primary to identify a more viable candidate. He stated, “President Obama absolutely did not think that Joe Biden should continue… And he also didn’t want Kamala Harris to be the replacement for Biden.”
Fox News
Despite Biden’s endorsement of Harris on July 21, 2024, following his withdrawal, Obama refrained from immediately supporting her. It wasn’t until five days later that both Barack and Michelle Obama publicly endorsed Harris, reflecting their initial reservations about her candidacy.
The book further reveals that Obama’s concerns were shared by other prominent Democrats. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and influential donors expressed apprehension about Harris’s ability to lead a successful campaign. These internal party tensions highlighted the divisions and strategic disagreements within the Democratic Party during a tumultuous election cycle.
Harris’s campaign faced significant challenges, including a lack of unified support and strategic missteps. Critics pointed to an overreliance on celebrity endorsements, such as those from George Clooney, which may have alienated working-class voters. This approach, coupled with internal party conflicts, contributed to her eventual defeat by Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
In the aftermath, Democrats engaged in introspection, questioning the decisions and strategies that led to their loss. The revelations about Obama’s covert opposition to Harris have sparked debates about party unity and the influence of key figures in candidate selection. These discussions underscore the complexities and challenges the Democratic Party faces as it navigates its future direction.
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