Sanders had multiple conversations with Obama ahead of decision to end campaign

[RandySF]

CNN)Former President Barack Obama played an active, albeit private, role in the Democratic presidential primary that effectively ended on Wednesday when Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race.

Obama and Sanders spoke multiple times in the last few weeks as the Vermont senator determined the future of his campaign, a source familiar with the conversation tells CNN. Sanders' decision to get out on Wednesday paves the way for Joe Biden, who served as Obama's vice president for eight years, to become the Democratic nominee.

Obama's eventual endorsement of Biden and fulsome entry into the campaign, whenever it occurs, will signal a new phase in Democrats' efforts to defeat President Donald Trump. But the former president backing his one-time running mate is all but a forgone conclusion at this point.
Obama's endorsement of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016 was highly choreographed, even though it happened in June, more than a month before Sanders officially backed the eventual Democratic nominee.

Although Obama remained relatively mum throughout the primary, only speaking out a handful of times before voters began casting ballots in 2020, the former president was closely monitoring the debate and had regular conversations with candidates before, during and after their respective bids.



https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/obama-sanders/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_allpolitics+%28RSS%3A+CNN+-+Politics%29

[Demsrule86]

1. +10000 K&R

[sheshe2]

2. K&R

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. I am so ready for Obama to go all 2016 WH Correspondence dinner on Trump's ass.

Pretty prescient of him. as well.

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[needledriver]

4. Dear CNN - fulsome doesn't mean what you think it means!

[Lock him up.]

5. K&R

GOTV

[helpisontheway]

6. Please come out and slay that traitor with your words President Obama. Nt

[Hortensis]

7. As expected of President Obama.

"His private counsel consistently emphasized staying focused on the ultimate goal: Winning the White House in November," the source familiar with Obama's calls tells CNN.

Obama, the source said, was impressed by the caliber of Democrats who chose to run -- and over two dozen did so. But the former president "urged them to keep in mind that we must be well-positioned to unify as a party once we have a nominee," the source said of the calls.

"While the content of those conversations remains private," the source said of Obama's calls with Sanders, "there was always agreement that winning in the fall was paramount."

Of course on Obama's side. I truly hope Sanders did agree. As soon as I see real indication (most of his base turning on him and remaining hostile paramount) I will gladly embrace a new ally against the enormous threat from the right. Past role in throwing power to Repubs not forgotten but set aside.

Btw, that base in a forum I did one of my rare visits to is furious and currently promising to "newly" oppose Democrats. Oh, please. Of course.