CNN's David AxelrodDavid AxelrodBiden faces monumental task healing divided country Biden leans on foreign policy establishment to build team Biden rolls out national security team MORE mocked a tweet from former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenKaty Perry and her 'Firework' close out inauguration TV special Arizona Republican's brothers say he is 'at least partially to blame' for Capitol violence Tom Hanks: After years of 'troubling rancor,' Inauguration Day 'is about witnessing the permanence of our American ideal' MORE to former President Obama celebrating "Best Friends Day," with the former Obama-Biden campaign chief strategist asking if it was joke.
"This is a joke, right?" Axelrod, who hosts "The Axe Files" on CNN, asked in a tweet on Sunday to his 1.1 million followers after Biden, a 2020 presidential candidate, wished Obama "happy #BestFriendsDay” on Saturday. Biden's post included a photo of the bracelets he shared to celebrate his Obama's 55th birthday in Aug. 2016.
Happy #BestFriendsDay to my friend, @BarackObama. pic.twitter.com/JTd1t7NtyL
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 9, 2019
This is a joke, right?
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) June 9, 2019
Other pundits also jumped in to rib Biden on the friendship tweet.
Dude, you’re 76. https://t.co/1gFpMACiWk
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) June 9, 2019
Keep pandering, Joe
— Joy Villa (@Joy_Villa) June 9, 2019
Biden: Obama’s my best friend.
— Jesse Fernandez (@JesseFernandez) June 9, 2019
Obama: Biden’s my coworker.
This can’t be real https://t.co/p5QvVOA1If
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) <ahref="https: twitter.com="" jbarro="" status="" 1137554019629621254?ref_src="twsrc%5Etfw"">June 9, 2019
This is a parody account, right? https://t.co/fj8NDZ9xRL
— Teri Christoph (@TeriChristoph) June 9, 2019
He's such a good friend that he wont endorse you for President...
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 9, 2019
Obama has pledged not to give any candidate, including his former vice president, his endorsement during the 2020 Democratic primary.
Biden is currently the front-runner among the 24 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, but has seen his lead shrink recently.
A Saturday Des Moines Register–CNN poll, for example, has Biden at 24 percent support, with Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersBudowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden inaugurated Sanders's inauguration look promptly gets a bobblehead Booker brings girlfriend, actress Rosario Dawson, to inauguration MORE (I-Vt.) at 16 percent, Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth WarrenBudowsky: Democracy won, Trump lost, President Biden inaugurated Top Senate Democrat backs waiver for Biden Pentagon nominee Consumer bureau director resigns after Biden's inauguration MORE (D-Mass.) at 15 percent and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Pete ButtigiegThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Sights and sounds from Inauguration Day Biden faces tall order in uniting polarized nation OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate majority offers Biden new avenues on Trump environmental rollbacks | Democrats eye action on range of climate bills | Biden pushing to cancel Keystone XL pipeline as soon as he takes office: reports MORE (D) at 14 percent.