As a former member of his administration, will Hillary Clinton automatically get President Obama’s endorsement of her run for president? Not according to the White House.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest praised Clinton, however, explaining that Obama viewed Hillary as an “effective campaigner” and a “formidable opponent” during the 2008 Democratic primary.
During her time as his Secretary of State, Obama built a “strong personal relationship” with Clinton and “the two of them have become friends,” Earnest added.
“As has been speculated by all of you and many others, there are other people who are friends of the president who may at some point decide to get in the race, so the president has not offered up any sort of endorsement at this point,” he said.
Earnest hinted that after Democrat voters picked a nominee, Obama would likely endorse the winner.
“I would anticipate that once that process has been concluded, and Democratic voters across the country have decided who the Democratic nominee should be, I think that Democratic nominee can be confident that they will enjoy the support of President Obama in that campaign,” he concluded.