Keller @ Large: Pros And Cons Of Obama Endorsement For Clinton
BOSTON (CBS) - Brace yourself for what could be the least surprising news of the year, right up there with headlines like "storm approaches New England."
Multiple news outlets are reporting that President Obama is poised to endorse Hillary Clinton for president, perhaps before the end of this week.
The endorsement would coincide with the end of the primary season and serve as a cue to Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents to close ranks behind Clinton. Perhaps even Bernie Sanders will take the hint and drop the fantasy of persuading hundreds of party insider super delegates to abandon Clinton. All of that should give her the same sort of boost in the polls that Donald Trump got when he sewed up the GOP nomination.
Who knows? Maybe even Elizabeth Warren will finally get off the fence and endorse.
There's no doubt Clinton needs Obama's active support during the campaign to beat Trump. She needs to expand and maximize turnout among African-Americans and older women, who are among Obama's biggest boosters. She must also hope his support will help her with younger voters who've been skeptical of her so far.
But don't forget, there's a downside to the presidential endorsement as well. Even though Mr. Obama's job approval ratings have been stronger recently, most of the remaining voters up for grabs in the fall tell pollsters they think our country is on the wrong track in both domestic and foreign policy.
Already, you're seeing Republicans sound a common theme: Do you want another four-to-eight years like the last eight?
It'll be up to Clinton to explain the difference.
