Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama endorsed Kamala Harris’ run for president on Friday. They extended their support 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 told Harris.
“I am proud of you. This is going to be historic,” the former first lady told Harris.
Meanwhile, Harris expressed her gratitude for the endorsement.
“Thank you both. It means so much. And we’re gonna have some fun with this too,” Harris said.
Kamala Harris’s unexpected campaign against Republican Donald Trump is picking up momentum. Support from donors, supporters, and politicians has increased since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race last week due to poor poll numbers.
Barack Obama, the first Black president of the US, is still very popular in the Democratic party, even though it has been over ten years since he was last elected.
Obama has backed Biden at major fundraisers, which were some of the biggest and most important events of his campaign.
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 held off on endorsing Kamala Harris at first, even though Biden, his former vice president, supported her as his chosen successor. Obama reportedly wanted to stay neutral while the party decided on its nominee.