Obama's former top spokesman just gave a big hint about who he wants to win the Democratic nomination
President Barack Obama's former press secretary said Wednesday that though the president might not make an endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary, he knows exactly who he wants to succeed him.
That candidate is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Jay Carney, who served as Obama's press secretary from 2011 through 2014, told CNN on Wednesday that Obama would prefer that Clinton gets the nomination:
"I don't think there is any doubt that he wants Hillary to win the nomination and believes that she would be the best candidate in the fall and the most effective as president in carrying forward what he's achieved," said Carney, who is a CNN contributor.
A look back at Hillary through the years, including her time as secretary of state:
Obama recently met with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), Clinton's Democratic-primary rival who captured a dominating victory in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. But Carney said that's simply a sign of the president's intention of staying neutral for now. He added Obama won't make an official endorsement in the presidential race "unless and until" it's clear Clinton will be the nominee.
"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," he said. "He won't officially embrace her unless and until it's clear that she's going to be the nominee. I think he is maintaining that tradition of not intervening in a party primary."
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