Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have expressed their support for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, making them the latest Democratic heavyweights to endorse the current Vice President.
Obama announced this news early Friday morning, stating on his social media platform, “Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris. We told her that we believe she would be an outstanding President of the United States, and we will fully support her. At this crucial moment in our country, we will do everything we can to ensure her victory in November. We hope you can join us.”
In the post, Obama attached a video of Kamala Harris answering their call while backstage at an event, walking towards her convoy with a Secret Service agent following behind.
The video, which is 55 seconds long, shows Harris on the phone through a speaker, and Obama tells her, “We called to say that Michelle and I are incredibly proud to support you and do everything we can to help you through this election and into the Oval Office.”
Michelle Obama also expressed her support for Harris, saying, “I am proud of you. This will be historic.”
Harris, smiling at her phone, thanked them, saying, “Thank you both. This means a lot.”
Harris’s campaign team confirmed that the video depicts a genuine phone call scene, not a staged production.
Harris has a good relationship with the Obamas, having known them even before Obama’s first presidential win in 2008.
Since President Biden announced his retirement and endorsed Harris on July 21, most of the Democratic heavyweights have endorsed the Vice President, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, former President Bill and Hillary Clinton, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Furthermore, Harris has secured enough delegate votes to win the party’s nomination and has raised a substantial amount of campaign funds in recent days.
If elected, Harris would become the first female President of the United States and the first President of Asian descent, as well as the second President of African descent following Obama.