Obama Endorses Kamala Harris for President, Solidifying Democratic Support
Washington — In a historical move, former President Barack Obama officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination on Friday. The endorsement solidified Democratic support for Harris, promising her a concrete position in the upcoming elections against former President Donald Trump in November.
A “Happy Warrior”
In a video posted by Harris’s campaign, a warm conversation unfolds between Obama, his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, and Harris. Declaring Harris a “happy warrior”, Obama commended her for her leadership skills asserting that he will do everything within his power to aid her in the upcoming elections.
“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,” Obama told Harris over the phone. Displaying pride and admiration for Harris, Michelle Obama stated, “I am proud of you. This is going to be historic.” Offering her gratitude, Harris responded, “This endorsement means so much to me and I am looking forward to doing this with all of you.”
Endorsements from Major Democrats
With this endorsement, Harris has successfully gathered support from all major Democrats and party leaders in Congress. Earlier, Mr. Biden was the first to back his vice president, soon after announcing his exit from the presidential race. Numerous Democratic icons, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, joined the endorsement wave within days.
Presently, Harris enjoys the backing of Democratic governors viewed as rising stars in the party and potential contenders for the party’s nomination, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. No other Democrat has currently announced their candidacy for the presidential nod, and Harris has surpassed the delegate threshold, securing endorsements from more than 40 state delegations.
Nomination and Campaign Progress
If Harris’s support holds, Democrats will officially nominate her for president during a virtual roll call vote likely in early August. The nominee will then have a week to select a running mate, and the party will convene for its convention in Chicago starting August 19.
Harris launched her presidential campaign just hours after Mr. Biden announced that he would forgo his bid for a second term. This announcement came amidst mounting pressure for Biden to step aside following a disconcerting debate performance against Trump. In an Oval Office address, Biden acknowledged that he believed his record merited a second term, however, he expressed that nothing – not even personal ambition – should stand in the way of safeguarding democracy.
Biden celebrated Harris as “experienced,” “tough,” and “capable”. Quickly hitting the campaign trail in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Texas, Harris, a former senator from California, announced that her campaign accrued more than $100 million between its official launch and Monday evening.
