Obama privately concerned Biden may have tanked re-election chances: sources

Barack Obama has privately told some allies that president Joe Biden's debate performance had badly dented his re-election chances, which is much harsher than the former president's public statements about the campaign.

Sources told the Washington Post that Obama had spoken directly with his former vice president by phone after Thursday's debate, although it's not clear whether he commented directly on his decrepit appearance onstage and his election chances.

“Bad debate nights happen,” Obama posted on social media after the debate. “Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit. Last night didn’t change that, and it’s why so much is at stake in November.”

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Obama has expressed his concerns more than once to Biden and his friends about the possibility that Trump could be re-elected, and he has appeared at two major fundraisers recently with the president after promising to help with the campaign.

The former president has also expressed concerns that Trump benefits from a loyal conservative media ecosystem and communicated his worries to allies ahead of the debate, but sources said he feels obligated to help Biden based on their history together and has not joined the growing calls for the president to step aside.

“President Biden is grateful for President Obama’s unwavering support since the very start of this campaign as both a powerful messenger to voters and a trusted adviser directly to the president,” said Biden campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt.