When Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE entered the 2020 race on Thursday, he made no mention of Barack ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaHarris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Five ways America would take a hard left under Joe Biden Valerie Jarrett: ‘Democracy depends upon having law enforcement’ MORE in his launch video. But his former boss loomed large throughout the day.<\/p>\n
In an Instagram post announcing his candidacy, Team Biden posted a photo of the former vice president with his arm around Obama.<\/p>\n
On Biden\u2019s website, the campaign highlighted how close their relationship was: \u201cA running mate becomes a friend for life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Allies also noted that Biden had brought\u00a0to his campaign former Obama aide\u00a0Anita Dunn to help steer his communications shop. \u201cThe band is back together,\u201d one ally said.<\/p>\n
Another ally pointed to Biden\u2019s support from Obama mega-donor Jeffrey Katzenberg, who signed on to co-chair an upcoming fundraiser.<\/p>\n
\u201cFired up. Ready for Joe,\u201d Stef Feldman, a Biden policy adviser, tweeted Thursday, an echo of the Obama campaign\u2019s \u201cFired up. Ready to go,\u201d slogan in 2008.<\/p>\n
The Obama nods were no coincidence. The hires and statements show how Biden wants to tie himself closely to the former president with the hope of rebuilding his coalition.<\/p>\n
\u201cTying himself to Obama is one of the smartest things he can do,\u201d said one prominent Democratic strategist who has worked on presidential campaigns. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the best strategies and he\u2019s the only one in this race who can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some ways, it\u2019s such a basic sales pitch,\u201d added David Litt, a former Obama speechwriter and the author of the bestseller \u201cThanks, Obama.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Biden did everything he could to highlight his Obama connections, the ex-president played it straight.<\/p>\n
An Obama spokesperson heaped praise on Biden a short time after his launch on Thursday. But Obama \u2014 who has pledged to stay neutral in the Democratic primary \u2014 stopped short of an endorsement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were no tweets about Biden from the former president on Thursday \u2014 or from the supremely popular former first lady, Michelle ObamaMichelle LeVaughn Robinson ObamaThe Hill’s Morning Report – Treasury, Fed urge more spending, lending to ease COVID-19 wreckage Budowsky: Michelle Obama or Tammy Duckworth for VP Michelle Obama urges class of 2020 to couple protesting with mobilizing, voting MORE.<\/p>\n
And while Biden secured a string of endorsements on Thursday, the lack of an Obama endorsement created a competing storyline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are the best choice for the Democrats in 2020, why didn\u2019t President Obama endorse you?\u201d a reporter asked Biden on Thursday after the former vice president arrived on an Acela train in Wilmington.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked President Obama not to endorse,\u201d Biden said. \u201cWhoever wins this nomination should win this on their own merits.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a sentiment Biden has shared with allies and friends in phone conversations and meetings in recent months.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows Obama will influence the race. Obama will loom large whether he likes it or not, and that\u2019s a good thing for him,\u201d one longtime Biden friend said. \u201cBut Joe wants to earn it on his own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robert Wolf, the prominent Democratic donor and former economic adviser to Obama, said the lack of an endorsement won\u2019t hurt Biden in the primary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople who decide to support Joe will do so because he\u2019s viewed as the best candidate who can defeat Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE and he\u2019ll be the best president and not because he was Obama\u2019s vice president,\u201d Wolf said. \u201cWe know from past elections that votes aren\u2019t transferable.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
Still, Biden allies predicted that the former vice president would continue to tie himself to Obama throughout the campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be malpractice if he didn\u2019t,\u201d one ally said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n