Joe Biden admitted that he doesn’t have the intimate connection to voters that former President Barack Obama had on the campaign trail.
Obama, 58, claimed that his former running mate, Biden, 77, could struggle on the campaign trail because he lacks a connection with voters, according to a report from Politico. Obama criticized some of the 2020 Democratic candidates about their connection to voters, saying, “And you know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden.”
Biden responded to Obama’s comments, telling Politico, “He may have said that. And if it’s true, and he said it, there’s truth to it.”
The former vice president credited Obama’s statement and acknowledged that he had mostly dropped in and campaigned for other people in states such as Iowa rather than running campaigns for himself.
“I mostly campaigned for other people in the time I’ve been here,” said Biden. “And I’ve never been in a position seeking the nomination where I have had the money and the organization to be able to get open headquarters all over the state.”
Biden reiterated his claim that he does not want an endorsement from Obama in the primary. He said, “Everyone knows [he’s] close with” Obama, so he doesn’t need the former president to tip the scales.
“I don’t need an Obama endorsement,” he added.
Biden has been the front-runner in most nationwide polls since announcing his candidacy. His RealClearPolitics polling average is at 27.2% support. He has, however, struggled to maintain his lead in Iowa with South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg leading in recent polls.
