Joe Biden says he doesn't need Obama's endorsement

Former Vice President Joe Biden said he didn’t need Barack Obama’s endorsement in the Democratic primary, Politico reported.

In an interview with the outlet during his "No Malarkey" tour through Iowa, Biden said he asked Obama not to endorse him. When asked if that would change if the field was narrowed down to three people, Biden doubled down on the stance.

"No, because everyone knows I’m close with him," Biden said. "I don’t need an Obama endorsement."

Obama and his advisers reportedly said the former vice president lacks an intimate bond and "really doesn’t have it" with the electorate, especially in Iowa.

Biden told Politico that Obama "may have said that" and if he did, "there’s truth to it."

"I’ve never been in a position seeking the nomination where I have had the money and the organization to be able to get open headquarters all over the state," he added.

While Obama's endorsement may not matter to Biden, it does matter to voters.

A national USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll from last month found that Obama has the most influence on two-thirds of Democratic voters today of all the party's past presidential nominees.