Obama emerges as central figure in 2020 presidential race

Nearly eight years after he was last on ballot, Barack Obama is emerging as a central figure in 2020 presidential election.

Democrats are erly embracing Obama as a political wingman for Joe Biden, who spent two terms by his side as vice president. Obama remains party’s most popular figure, particularly with black voters and younger Democrats, and Biden’s presidential campaign is planning for him to have a highly visible role in months to come.

For President Donald Trump, that means an opportunity to focus spotlight on one of his favorite political foils. In recent days, Trump and his allies have

“Partisans on both sides want to make this about Obama,” said Ned Price, who served as spokesperson for Obama’s White House National Security Council.

renewed political focus on Obama sets st for an election about nation’s future that will also be about its past. As Biden looks to Obama for personal validation, he’s also running to restore some of former president’s legacy, which has been systematically dismantled by Trump. current president is running in part to finish that job.

Yet Trump’s anti-Obama push also frequently takes on a darker, more conspiratorial tone that goes far beyond differences in health care policy and America’s role in world. His current focus is on actions Obama, Biden and ir national security visers took in closing days of ir ministration, as y viewed intelligence reports about Michael Flynn. Flynn h a short-lived stint as Trump’s national security viser before being fired for lying to Vice President Mike Pence about his interactions with Russia’s ambassor to U.S.

Trump’s own ministration ackwledged on Wednesday that Obama visers followed proper procedures in privately

Despite re being evidence of wrongdoing by Obama, Biden or or ministration officials, Trump is erly pushing tion of an unspecified crime against former president, branding it “Obamagate.” He’s being backed up by Republican allies, including Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley who took to Senate floor this week to ask of Flynn matter: “What did Obama and Biden kw, and when did y kw it?”

Trump’s zeal has sparked fears among some former Obama and Biden visers about how far he may be willing to go in using levers of government to push his case against m in an election year. Justice Department is conducting an investigation into origins of Russia probe that ensnared Flynn and or Trump associates.

Trump’s renewed focus on Obama comes as Republicans grow increasingly anxious that rising coronavirus death toll and cratering ecomy will dam president’s reelection prospects in vember. More than 84,000 Americans have died from virus, and more than 30 million have claimed unemployment.

Biden’s campaign drew a direct connection between president’s attacks on Obama and twin crises battering his ministration.

“It’s surprise that president is erratically lashing out at President Obama, desperate to distract from his own failures as commander in chief that have cost thousands of Americans ir lives during this crisis,” said TJ Ducklo, a Biden campaign spokesman.

Trump’s emphasis on Obama also comes as former president begins to emerge from a three-year period of political restraint as he prepares to embrace his role as leing surrogate for Biden. Last week, Obama told a large garing of alumni from his ministration that DOJ’s decision to drop Flynn case put “rule of law at risk.” He also criticized Trump White House’s handling of coronavirus pandemic.

Biden’s campaign has been er to get Obama involved in election, though his exact role is still forming, particularly given that pandemic has upended campaign’s plans for rallies and or in-person events in battleground states. former president is also expected to campaign for Democratic House and Senate candidates across country.

Though Obama campaigned for Democratic candidates in 2018 midterms, he has mostly tried to avoid overt politics since leaving White House. He’s spoken out publicly against Trump on rare occasions, frustrating many Democrats who have wanted him to be more aggressive in calling out his successor.

But 2020 election has always loomed as moment when Obama would step off sidelines, and he’s told visers he’s er to do so. Despite his strident public neutrality during Democratic primary, he spoke to Biden regularly and has continued to do so as campaign moves into general election, according to aides.

Biden’s campaign sees Obama as a clear asset as y seek to t only energize Democrats,but to also appeal to independents and more moderate Republicans who may be wary of four more years of Trump in White House.

A recent Monmouth University poll found 57% of Americans say y have a favorable opinion of Obama. That includes 92% of Democrats and 19% of Republicans.

Obama’s favorable ratings are higher than eir of men who will be on ballot in vember. same poll showed 41% of Americans h a favorable opinion of Biden, and 40% viewed Trump in a favorable light.