WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday, just days after she nominated him for the presidency. his campaign After President Joe Biden withdrewew from the race.
“Michelle and I couldn’t be more proud to support you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama says in the video, which shows Harris taking a call from the Obamas.
Michelle Obama says approx one minute video: “My daughter Kamala: I can’t make this phone call without saying I’m proud of you. It’s going to be history.”
According to NBC News, Obama, the first black president, and Harris, who could become the first female president, have been in close contact since announcing her candidacy on Sunday, and she has personally given her full support. reported.
“He keeps in touch with her regularly and thinks she’s a great starter,” one of them said.
Aides to Obama and Harris have discussed appearing together on the campaign trail at some point, three people familiar with the discussions said.
Obama had supported Biden’s re-election bid, but he “is disturbing” on Biden’s prospects in November after his lackluster debate performance in late June.
Minutes after announcing his exit from the race on Sunday, Biden endorsed Harris for president, and Democrats quickly rallied around him.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also endorsed Harris in a joint statement on Sunday.
Obama praised Biden’s leadership as president and his life of public service in a statement on the day of his announcement, but did not endorse Harris at the time.
Harris and Obama’s political lives have intertwined over the past two decades as they have campaigned for and endorsed each other for various elected positions. Harris when he was the District Attorney of San Francisco was co-chairman About his campaign in California when Obama was running for president as a senator. During the race, he attended Obama’s speech in Springfield, Illinois; campaigned for him in Iowa, Nevada, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire; and attended a victory speech in Chicago’s Grant Park when he won the general election, San Francisco Chronicle informed on time.
Shortly after Obama won in 2008, Harris announced his candidacy for California attorney general. saying Chrhenickel: “To be sure, Obama has excited a whole new generation of voters, and … they span all ages and categories. But they’re an excited group of people who feel good about the country, and they want to be involved – and those are the people I want to talk to.
In 2010, Obama nominated Harris to be attorney general, which he won and served for six years. And in 2016, he confirmed and He cut a TV ad for Harris When he ran for the Senate.
Obama also nominated Harris’ brother-in-law, Tony West, another prolific Obama supporter, to head the Justice Department’s Civil Division in 2009. He became an assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice in the Obama administration.
Megan Lebowitz contributed.