Their Boss Stays on the Sideline, but Obama Aides Tilt to Clinton [View all]

WASHINGTON — The two leading Democratic contenders for president are competing to wrap President Obama in a tight embrace. He is hugging only one of them back.

With Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont locked in an increasingly taut battle in the final days before the Iowa caucuses, both are laying claim to Mr. Obama’s mantle, and to the young voters he turned out in 2008 and 2012. Mr. Sanders is selling himself as an insurgent in the spirit of Mr. Obama; Mrs. Clinton as the custodian of his legacy.

So far, legacy is winning out.

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Mrs. Clinton meets periodically with Mr. Obama, most recently last month when he invited her to the White House for a private 90-minute lunch the day after they each delivered speeches about how to confront the terrorist threat from the Islamic State. In her remarks, Mrs. Clinton portrayed the threat posed by the militant group in darker terms than the president and reiterated her proposal to enforce a no-fly zone over northern Syria to protect civilians, a step Mr. Obama has so far resisted.

Shared history makes these contacts easier: In the four years Mrs. Clinton was a member of Mr. Obama’s cabinet, their staffs became friendly. She hired several of his advisers to work on her campaign, including Mr. Podesta, Ms. Palmieri and the pollster Joel Benenson. In addition, her policy adviser, Jake Sullivan, worked closely in the White House with Mr. Obama’s deputy national security adviser, Benjamin J. Rhodes.

Mr. Obama’s political director, David Simas, speaks periodically with Robby Mook, Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manager, on practical issues, like the use of the president’s image or voice in advertising. The two sides do not coordinate on political strategy and will not unless Mrs. Clinton becomes the nominee. In that case, they will negotiate a list of appearances by Mr. Obama on Mrs. Clinton’s behalf (which would be true for Mr. Sanders as well).

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