Former President Barack Obama endorsed his former running mate Joe Biden for president on Tuesday after largely staying out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
Obama made his endorsement in a video he posted online on Tuesday afternoon, framed through the ongoing coronavirus emergency.
“If there is one thing we’ve learned as a country from moments of great crisis, it’s that the spirit of looking out for one another can’t be restricted to our homes, or our workplaces, or our neighborhoods, or our houses of worship. It also has to be reflected in our national government. The kind of leadership that is guided by knowledge and experience; honestly and humility; empathy and grace.”
The former president continued:
“That kind of leadership doesn’t just belong in our state capitols and mayors offices. It belongs in the White House. That’s why I’m so proud to endorse Joe Biden for President of the United States.”
Obama said he believed Biden had “the qualities we need in a president right now.”
The endorsement from Obama comes just a day after Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a former 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, endorsed Biden and urged his followers to vote for him when he faces off against President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
Sanders suspended his presidential campaign last week.
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