Former President Barack Obama has met privately with at least nine potential Democratic candidates for president in recent months, providing guidance and counsel, Politico reported.
Obama has had 1-on-1 meetings with other Democratic leaders not running for president in an effort to buttress a national party that's foundering and rudderless, but at the fore is the private support he's given to potential candidates to unseat President Donald Trump in 2020.
That list, according to Politico:
- Sen. Bernie Sanders.
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren - twice.
- Joe Biden.
- Former AG Eric Holder, though apparently not about a presidential run.
- Former Gov. Deval Patrick.
- New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
- South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
- Jason Kander.
- Sen. Cory Booker, last year.
Obama has not met with potential candidates Sens. Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand or former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Politico reports.
Most meetings have taken place quietly at Obama's D.C. office — save for Garcetti — and most have lasted for an hour or more and touched on wide-ranging issues germane to the candidate and the party, Politico reports.
Obama won't endorse any candidate until he/she has emerged from the primaries as the Democratic candidate, Politico reports. Obama is, however, planning to hit the stump for down-ballot Democrats ahead of November's midterms.
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