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| Former U.S. President Barack Obama said he doesn't plan to endorse a candidate for the 2020 presidential election until after a Democratic nominee has emerged. File Photo by John Gress/UPI | License Photo |
By Danielle Haynes, UPI
Former President Barack Obama has met with several Democrats who could be considering running for president in 2020, unnamed sources close to the 44th president said.
Unnamed sources with knowledge of the meetings confirmed their existence to Politico and CNN on Monday.
Among those who have attended meetings with Obama at his office in the World Wildlife Fund building in Washington, D.C., are former Vice President Joe Biden; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker; South Bend, Ind., Mayor Peter Buttigieg; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; former Attorney General Eric Holder; former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander; former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu; former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
None has confirmed they are running for president in 2020.
The sources said Obama isn't offering the potential candidates specific advice on how to run or whether they should run, but is instead acting as a sounding board on the future of the party and talking points before any announcements.
"He has been very clear about the need for the Democratic Party to rebuild and part of that is lifting up the next generation of leaders," one Democratic source told CNN. "So if people want advice or a gut check or just to come in and look at the challenges we face, he is happy to do that."
Obama has said he doesn't intend to endorse any candidates until after one emerges as the Democratic nominee.
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