Former US President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate, an expected but crucial endorsement for the country’s vice president from two of the country’s most popular Democrats.
The endorsement, announced Friday morning in a video showing Harris taking a phone call from the couple, came as Harris continues to gain support as the party’s presumptive nominee following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out and endorse his No. 2 in the race against former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump.
She also highlighted the friendship and possible historical connection between the country’s first black president and the first woman, first black woman and first person of Asian descent to serve as vice president, who now hopes to break those same barriers in the presidency.
“We’re calling to say that Michelle and I couldn’t be more proud to support you and do everything we can to help you win this election and get to the Oval Office,” the former president told Harris, who was shown taking the call as she walked backstage at an event, followed by a Secret Service agent.
“I can’t have this call without saying to my friend, Kamala, I’m proud of you,” Michelle Obama said. “This is going to be historic.”
Harris, who has known the Obamas since before Barack Obama won the 2008 election, thanked them for their friendship and said she was looking forward to “being there, being on the road” with them during the three months of campaigning before Election Day on Dec. 5.
“We’re going to have fun with this too, right?” Harris said.
The Obamas are perhaps the last prominent members of the party to officially endorse Harris, a reflection of the former president’s desire to remain, at least publicly, a party fixture above the fray. The Obamas remain a prodigious fundraising force and are popular keynote speakers at large rallies representing Democratic candidates.
According to an Associated Press poll, Harris already has the public support of a majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention, which begins Aug. 19 in Chicago. The Democratic National Committee plans to hold a virtual vote on Aug. 7 that would make Harris and an as-yet-unannounced vice presidential hopeful its official candidates.
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