Barack and Michelle Obama Back Kamala Harris for November Election
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, announced on Friday their endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for the presidential election on November 5.
They are the final major Democratic leaders to publicly support Harris following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from his bid for a second term.
Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support. At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in… pic.twitter.com/0UIS0doIbA
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 26, 2024
The announcement was accompanied by a video showing Harris receiving a phone call from the Obamas, during which they expressed their endorsement.
Obama was among the more than 100 prominent Democrats with whom Harris spoke after President Joe Biden’s announcement last Sunday that he was withdrawing from the race. In a prior statement, Obama praised Biden’s decision to withdraw but did not offer explicit support for Harris at that time.
Their endorsement came shortly after President Biden explained that his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race was intended to preserve democracy and pass the “torch to a new generation.” His speech marked the beginning of the final chapter of his presidency and a half-century of public service. Biden emphasised that maintaining party unity required sacrificing personal ambition for the greater good.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris recently launched a direct attack against Donald Trump during her first campaign rally, framing the November elections as a confrontation between a former prosecutor and a convicted criminal.
On July 21, Joe Biden announced in a letter that he was withdrawing from the presidential race and recommended Kamala Harris as his successor.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
