Despite praising Sen. Bernie Sanders and acknowledging that Hillary Clinton is a bit “rusty” on the campaign trail, President Obama would prefer to see Clinton as the Democratic nominee, according to his former press secretary.
“I think the president has signaled while still remaining neutral that he supports Secretary Clinton’s candidacy and would prefer to see her as the nominee,” Jay Carney said on CNN.
“I think he is maintaining the tradition of not intervening in a party primary. But I don’t think there is any doubt that he wants Hillary to win the nomination and believes she would be the best candidate in the fall and the most effective as president in carrying forward what he has achieved.”
Don’t expect a public endorsement of the former secretary of state anytime soon, however.
“[He won’t] officially embrace her unless and until it’s clear that she’s going to be the nominee,” Carney added.
This is assuming, of course, that she does not get indicted over her email scandal. If she did, some, including former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, are predicting Vice President Joe Biden would enter the race and presumably become the Democratic presidential nominee.