The official story of Barack Obama and Joe Biden was that they were so close that they had a “bromance.” Joe Biden even bragged — embarrassingly — about them having a friendship bracelet. Remember how creepy this was and how thirsty this made Biden seem for Obama’s affirmation?

Happy #BestFriendsDay to my friend, @BarackObama. pic.twitter.com/JTd1t7NtyL

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 9, 2019

But the reality was somewhat different from the claimed bromance. It wasn’t Biden who Obama embraced as his potential successor in 2016, it was Hillary Clinton. Obama reportedly discouraged Biden from running, didn’t endorse him in 2020 until the last minute, and had previously allegedly said, “Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to f*** things up.” Obama also allegedly told one 2020 candidate: “And you know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden.”

That might explain the way that Barack Obama treated Joe Biden during the visit that he recently made back to the White House. It was a sad thing, watching Biden try to get his attention after the event, even touching his shoulder and calling his name, yet still being ignored by Obama who was the center of attention. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris — who is supposed to work for Biden — seemed to be hanging all over Obama and getting recognition from him.

But now there are more juicy details of this dysfunctional relationship and how, allegedly, Obama was jealous of Biden in the new book, “This Will Not Pass.” While Obama occasionally spoke to Biden after he took office, he talks more regularly to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who told a friend, “Obama is jealous of Biden.” Biden himself also pointed to Obama not being happy about things nor was Biden happy with some of the things Obama had done concerning him.

‘I am confident that Barack is not happy with the coverage of this administration as more transformative than his,’ the book states Biden told them. [….]

Biden also reportedly complained Obama hadn’t ‘lifted a finger’ to help him win the South Carolina primary in 2020, the race that cinched the Democratic nomination for him.

The former president and his staffers also subtly worked to discourage Biden from running for president in 2016. They instead favored Hillary Clinton, who later lost to Trump, Politico had reported in 2020.

The president was not encouraging’ of Biden’s potential White House bid at the time, the current commander-in-chief said.

That’s why Biden made it very clear to Obama that he intends to run again in 2024, according to the book. I don’t think most Democrats believe he’s going to be running, particularly given the issues that he already has now.

I find this story juicy because that’s so like Obama to be jealous if he’s not the center of attention. I can imagine him seething. It would also explain him putting Biden off publicly, so people can see it and comment on it. That’s cold and maybe he wanted everyone to see it that way. It’s also funny that Pelosi is giving up Obama for his pettiness. Now, I wonder — given what a mess Joe has made of things — if Obama is still as jealous. But he was still giving attitude and hogging the spotlight during that visit, so it would seem that there are still issues there.

I’m willing to bet that in the movement behind the scenes, the replacement talk is fast and furious and that’s why Kamala Harris is angling to be that one close to Obama thinking that might help her chances and that’s why she wouldn’t talk about being Biden’s running mate in 2024.

So add some behind scenes drama to the implosion that we see upfront with Biden’s policies and grab the popcorn. It’s going to be a fun ride as the Democrats fail their way to the midterms.