Former President Barack Obama has been meeting with potential Democratic candidates for the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

Over the past few months, Obama has invited several rumored presidential candidates to meet privately in his D.C. office for one-on-one sessions, according to Politico. So far, the former president has met with at least nine potential candidates including former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D).

The meetings give the former president a chance to listen and give thoughts on campaign ideas, as well as help candidates in securing the support of donors and party bigwigs. However, he is not expected to endorse anyone in the 2020 presidential race until after a nominee has been selected by voters.

“He doesn’t see himself as the person to come up with the plan, people who know about the meetings say, but he is eager to be a sounding board and counselor to the Democrats he sees as playing a role in shaping the party’s future,” a source told Politico.

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