Former President Obama in 2015 pushed former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Democratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida Harris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle MORE not to run for president in 2015, The New York Times reported Sunday.

According to the Times, Obama "gently pressed" Biden on his 2016 presidential ambitions over several weeks. He then ultimately had a strategist deliver a discouraging assessment to Biden of his odds in the race against then-front runner Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE.

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“The president was not encouraging,” Biden later said, according to the Times.

Obama believed at the time that Clinton, who would become the Democratic presidential nominee and lose to President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE in the general election, had the best chance to win, according to the Times. Obama also didn't think Biden was in the right state of mind to campaign for president following the death of his son, Beau, the newspaper reported.

Biden ultimately did not seek the Democratic nomination for president during that election, citing the "grieving process" following his son's death from brain cancer.

The revelation that Obama encouraged Biden not to run comes days after Biden officially launched his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

Biden has already tied himself close to Obama in his campaign, though he said he asked Obama not to endorse him.

“I asked President Obama not to endorse,” Biden said last week. “Whoever wins this nomination should win it on their own merits.”

Obama praised his former VP in a statement following Biden's campaign launch.