Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Kamala Harris in her presidential candidacy, giving the vice president the expected but important backing of the country's two most popular Democrats, world media reported.
The endorsement, announced Friday morning in a video of Harris accepting a joint phone call from the former first couple, comes as Harris continues to gain traction as the party's likely nominee following President Joe Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign and endorse his vice president against Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.
"We called to say Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," the former president told Harris, who is shown answering the phone as she walks backstage at an event, trailed by a Secret Service agent.
Michelle Obama said, "I can't have this phone call without telling my girl, Kamala, how proud I am of you.""This is going to be historic," she said.
Harris, who has known the Obamas since before his win in 2008, expressed thanks for their friendship and said she looks forward to "getting there, being on the road" with them throughout the three-month campaign until election day on November 5.
"We're gonna have some fun with this too, aren't we?" Harris said.
The Obamas are among the most recent major party figures to openly support Harris, demonstrating the former president's desire to remain, at least officially, a party elder working above the fray. The Obamas continue to be effective fundraisers and popular surrogates at large Democratic campaign events.
According to an Associated Press survey, Harris has already received the public support of the majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which begins August 19 in Chicago. The Democratic National Committee intends to have a virtual nominating vote by August 7, establishing Harris and an unknown running mate as the official Democratic ticket.
The Obamas, on the other hand, exercised caution as Harris secured delegate promises, campaigned in critical Democratic districts, and raised more than $120 million. The public warning explores how the former president handled the weeks between Biden's disastrous debate performance against Trump and the president's ultimate decision to end his candidacy. Obama had a conspicuous presence in the party's operations, although he acted quietly. |BGNES
