Obama Tosses Biden A Bone, Stops Short Of A Full Endorsement

President Barack Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, wipes away tears from his cheek as he recalled the 20 first-graders killed in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, while speaking in the East Room of ... President Barack Obama, accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, wipes away tears from his cheek as he recalled the 20 first-graders killed in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, while speaking in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016, about steps his administration is taking to reduce gun violence. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) MORE LESS
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Former President Barack Obama gave a nod to his Vice President’s campaign announcement Thursday morning, but stopped short of a full-throated endorsement.

“President Obama has long said that selecting Joe Biden as his running mate in 2008 was one of the best decisions he ever made,” said Obama spokesperson Katie Hill per Business Insider. “He relied on the Vice President’s knowledge, insight, and judgment throughout both campaigns and the entire presidency. The two forged a special bond over the last 10 years and remain close today.”

Kate Bedingfield, Biden’s deputy campaign manager, said on MSNBC that the former vice president had asked Obama not to endorse him.

“He wants to make his own case,” she said “MSNBC Live.” “He is running on an incredibly strong message of wanting to restore the soul of the nation, wanting to rebuild the middle class.”

Obama has met with a whole host of 2020 contenders but has been treading carefully, avoiding the appearance of lending his preference to any specific one.

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