From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 26, 2024
Obama backs Harris’s presidential bid after initially withholding endorsement
Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle endorse Kamala Harris’ bid for president in a roughly one-minute-long video that captured a private phone call between the couple and the current vice president.
“We called to say 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,” Obama tells Harris.
“I am proud of you. This is going to be historic,” the former first lady told Harris.
Talking into a cell phone and cracking a few smiles, Harris expresses her gratitude for the endorsement and their long friendship.
“Thank you both. It means so much. And we’re gonna have some fun with this too,” Harris says.
The campaign says the video was the actual call, not a reenactment.
Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support. At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in… pic.twitter.com/0UIS0doIbA
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 26, 2024
Harris’s surprise bid against Republican rival Donald Trump continues to gain steam from supporters, donors and politicians less than a week after President Joe Biden bowed out of the race amid slumping poll numbers.
Obama, the first Black US president, remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic party even after more than a decade has passed since he was last elected.
The endorsement could help activate and sustain energy and fundraising for Harris’ campaign and it signals he is likely to get on the campaign trail for Harris once she is officially the presumptive nominee.
Obama initially withheld his endorsement even as Biden, his former vice president, anointed her as his heir apparent, as he reportedly did not want to put his thumb on the scale as the party worked through the process of determining its nominee.
