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President Barack Obama bluntly predicted on Tuesday that a Democrat will succeed him after the 2016 presidential race.
« I’m anticipating a Democrat succeeding me, » Obama said. « I’m confident in the wisdom of the American people on that front. »
Obama made the comment at a press conference in Paris, where he is meeting with other world leaders for a global conference on climate change.
He was responding to a reporter’s question as to whether he’s confident that a Republican successor would follow through on a potential climate-change agreement.
Obama said that even if a Republican replaces him, the next president would still follow through on an agreement aiming to curb the effects of climate change.
« But even if somebody from a different party succeeded me, one of the things that you find is when you’re in this job, you think about it differently than when you’re just running for the job, » he said. « American leadership involves not just playing to a narrow constituency back home. But you are now in fact at the center of what happens around the world. »
Obama suggested other world leaders think climate change is « a really big problem, » even if Republicans don’t.
« So whoever is the next president of the United States, if they come in and they suggest somehow that that global consensus — not just 99.5% of scientists and experts, but 99% of world leaders — think this is really important, I think the president of the United States going to need to think this is really important, » he continued.
He further said the broader American public was with him on the issue.
« It’s important for us to not project what’s being said on a campaign trail but to do what’s right and make the case, » Obama said. « And I would note that the American people, I think in the most recent survey, two-thirds of them said America should be a signatory to any agreement that emerges that is actually addressing climate change in a serious way. »
Obama added: « So the good news is the politics inside the United States is changing as well. »
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