Barack Obama will do all he can to help elect Hillary Clinton to succeed him. Despite a sometimes rancorous past between Obama and Clinton, the GOP’s selection of Donald Trump as its nominee has invigorated the President, who’s currently enjoying high popularity ratings. (Clinton, of course, served under Obama as Secretary of State.) The President doesn’t want to be associated with the Clintons’ penchant for stirring up controversy — email problems, Bill Clinton’s Loretta Lynch meeting, etc. — but Obama has found a simple formula with which to support Clinton’s candidacy while staying above the fray. His strategy: Values.
“Over the years, the President has developed a deep appreciation for [Clinton’s] toughness under fire and her commitment to a set of values that the President shares,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says. Expect the theme to be repeated often as Obama stumps for Clinton. The world views of Trump and Clinton are diametrically opposed on issues like immigration, Islam and others. Obama can easily side with Clinton’s vision on nearly every issue — touting a shared “set of values” — while remaining above accusations leveled at Clinton about her conduct in pursuit of those values. Obama and Clinton will campaign together today in Charlotte.
