Former President Barack Obama with Kamala Harris in 2022. Photo credit: AP.
Former President Barack Obama, wife, Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris for presidency.
According to BBC News Friday, in a video released on Friday, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama announced their endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
“Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Barack Obama said to Harris during a phone call, joined by Michelle.
Harris expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the Obamas’ endorsement and long-standing friendship. “Oh my goodness. Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me. I’m looking forward to doing this with the two of you, Doug and I both. And getting out there, being on the road,” she said. “But most of all, I just want to tell you the words you have spoken and the friendship that you have given over all these years mean more than I can express, so thank you both. It means so much. And we’re gonna have some fun with this too, aren’t we?”
Michelle Obama, emphasizing her pride in Harris, added, “I can’t have this phone call without saying to my girl, Kamala, I am proud of you. This is going to be historic.”
In a joint statement, the Obamas highlighted Harris’s qualifications and her suitability for the presidency. “But Kamala has more than a resume,” the statement read. “She has the vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands. There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people. At a time when the stakes have never been higher, she gives us all reason to hope.”
The endorsement comes after a period of regular communication between Obama and Harris, where Obama has served as a mentor and sounding board. Despite his support, Obama did not immediately endorse Harris after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection. Instead, Obama emphasized the importance of a fair and transparent nomination process within the Democratic Party.
“I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” Obama said in a statement following Biden’s announcement.
An Obama adviser told CNN that Obama’s approach was consistent with his stance during the 2020 Democratic primary, where he aimed to unify the party behind the eventual nominee. His initial reluctance to endorse Harris directly was meant to keep the focus on Biden, his former vice president, on the day Biden announced he would not pursue a second term.
Obama had been an active supporter of Biden’s reelection efforts, participating in numerous fundraisers and other activities to bolster Biden’s campaign.
The Democratic Party has been expediting the process to nominate Harris, with new rules adopted on Wednesday to guide the nomination. Voting for Harris’s nomination is expected to start on August 1, with formal votes for president and vice president, as well as the party platform, taking place during the Democratic convention in Chicago from August 19 to 22. The ceremonial presidential vote will be a roll call, while the vice-presidential vote is likely to be a voice vote.
Harris has yet to choose a running mate. According to CNN, her team of lawyers and advisers is conducting an expedited search for a vice-presidential candidate, aiming to announce her choice by August 7.
