A spokesperson for 2020 front-runner Joe Biden’s presidential campaign avoided answering if the former vice president reached out to former President Barack Obama to defend him during an interview on MSNBC Monday morning.
Symone Sanders discussed Biden’s apology over the weekend for previously highlighting his relationship with two segregationist senators in an effort to discuss civility in politics on the network. She used Obama’s name twice in her defense of Biden leading MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson to ask about the current relationship between Obama and Biden.
“You mentioned former President Barack Obama twice just there. Joe Biden has mentioned former president Barack Obama many, many times, particularly over the weekend,” Jackson stated. “I get that the- Joe Biden has not asked and said he doesn’t want President Obama to endorse him. Have there been conversations though with Barack Obama about coming out and at least defending Joe Biden, have you thought about that? Have you asked about that?”
Sanders responded, “Look Hallie, I’m not going to get into the specifics of what Vice President Biden and President Obama do and do not talk about.”
Jackson interrupted, “So, that’s not a no though.”
“What I am saying is that we are focused on speaking directly to the American people. Look, Vice President Biden is running to be the Democratic nominee and the next President of the United States of America. He’s not running for President Obama’s third term,” Sanders continued.
“He mentions his work with President Obama in the Obama/Biden White House because it’s a very important part of his career. I know there are a number of people in this race that wish perhaps that they could mention Obama and talk about President Obama in the way in which vice president Biden does,” she continued. “But we are talking about his experience. We are talking about what he has seen firsthand. For eight years he watched President Obama up close and personal.”
Jackson’s question also came a day after fellow presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who condemned Biden’s remarks, told reporters that, “When it comes time to pull the lever and for people to actually vote in this presidential election they’re going to make their decisions based not just on who we’re associated with.”
