“To some extent, oftentimes felt that that loyalty was not being rewarded.” “He was loyal, I think, to Obama in every way in terms of defending and standing by him, even probably when he disagreed with what Obama was doing,” recalled Leon Panetta, Obama’s secretary of Defense. Happy #BestFriendsDay to my friend, /JTd1t7NtyL- Joe Biden June 9, 2019

Biden relabeled himself an “Obama-Biden Democrat.”īut behind all the BFF bonhomie is a much more complicated story-one fueled by the misgivings the 44th president had about the would-be 46th, the deep hurt still felt among Biden’s allies over how Obama embraced Hillary Clinton as his successor, and a powerful sense of pride that is driving Biden to prove that the former president and many of his aides underestimated the very real strengths of his partner. Barack Obama, Biden solemnly declared in his campaign announcement in Philadelphia, is “an extraordinary man, an extraordinary president.” On the social media-generated #BestFriendsDay, the campaign posted a picture of “Joe” and “Barack” friendship bracelets.

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