President Joe Biden is still bitter about feeling pushed out of the 2016 presidential race by Democratic elites in favor of Hillary Clinton, according to people close to him.
Sources say those feelings have risen again as many Democrats have called for him to leave the 2024 race against former President Donald Trump, reports the The New York Times.
Lingering tension remains in Biden's political circle over some in former President Barack Obama's senior staff urging Biden when he was vice president to sit out the 2016 presidential race.
In his memoir "Promise Me, Dad," Biden wrote about having lunch in 2015 with Obama just months after his son Beau died of cancer in which they discussed the possibility of a 2016 run.
Obama, Biden recalled, asked if he was going to enter the race. Biden said that he told Obama he was not ready to make up his mind, but if he decided to jump into the race, he would do it in time to be viable.
"The president was not encouraging," Biden wrote.
The Times report said Biden was furious about being pushed aside for Clinton, specifically because he had been so loyal for years.
Clinton won the popular vote by almost 2.9 million votes.
However, Trump won the electoral college with 304 votes, compared to 227 votes for Clinton, ensuring his victory.
More than 30 Democrat lawmakers have called on Biden to withdraw since last month's disastrous debate performance against Trump.
Biden, though, has insisted he is not stepping away.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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