By Burnett Munthali
On Friday, former President Barack Obama officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. This endorsement comes as a pivotal moment for Harris, filling a significant gap in the broad support she has been receiving from the party’s leading figures following President Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
Obama, who had remained neutral throughout the Democratic primaries and maintained his role as an impartial party elder, had previously withheld his endorsement despite the growing wave of support for Harris. His endorsement now represents a critical boost for Harris’s campaign as she prepares for the upcoming election.
The announcement was accompanied by a video released by Harris’s campaign, showing a phone call between Harris, Obama, and former First Lady Michelle Obama. During the call, Obama expressed his and Michelle’s pride in endorsing Harris and their commitment to supporting her candidacy.
“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 stated in the video.
Harris responded with gratitude, saying, “Thank you both! It means so much. And, and we’re going to have some fun with this, too, aren’t we?”
Obama’s endorsement is expected to further galvanize support for Harris and consolidate her position as the leading Democratic candidate. As the campaign heats up, Harris will likely benefit from the endorsement of one of the party’s most influential figures.
