Washington—Former President barack obama Michelle Obama endorses Vice President Kamala Harris Harris’ campaign said in a brief video released Friday that he will run for president.
The 55-second video shows the vice president walking to her motorcade backstage at an event and answering a call on speakerphone.
“Wow, hi, you two are together! Oh, it’s great to hear both of you,” Harris said enthusiastically.
“When I get this call, I have to say to my daughter Kamala: I’m so proud of you,” Michelle Obama said. “This is going to be historic.
The former president then said: “We’re calling to tell you that Michelle and I are very proud to support you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office.”
Harris thanked them for their friendship, adding: “We’re going to have some fun with it.”
The highly anticipated endorsement puts to rest speculation that Harris, the de facto Democratic presidential nominee, might not have the full support of Democratic politics’ most popular couple.
The issue arises because the Obamas’ endorsement comes just days after other party leaders publicly endorsed Harris. President Joe Biden’s July 21 statement He will end his re-election campaign.
But NBC News reported this week that Barack Obama Stay in regular contact with Harris throughout the week Over the phone, she offered advice on how to build her own campaign operation overnight, using the people, money and logistics of what was once Biden’s campaign.
Later this summer and fall, the two Obamas are also expected to join the campaign trail to help galvanize Democratic voters, many of whom are already enthusiastic about Harris.
Both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are almost certain to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. This will be the party’s first in-person convention since 2016.
The speed with which Harris’ campaign has gained momentum in its first five days is almost unprecedented in modern politics.
Her campaign and Democrats raised $81 million in the first 24 hours after Biden withdrew. A detail that may be more telling is that half a million of those donors were first-time donors to Harris’ presidential campaign.
Harris also appears to have closed the polling gap between Biden and former President Trump, trailing the Republican candidate by just one percentage point in the polls. New York Times poll average late Thursday.
Obama’s endorsement is also notable for the way the Harris campaign has chosen to package it. The semi-casual film of a private phone call between old friends bears little resemblance to the traditional format of a presidential campaign endorsement.
Typically, they are issued in the form of one-sided statements printed on letterhead or tweets with florid praise for the candidates. It’s not like that.
But while unconventional, the video call fits the emerging political identity of Harris’ campaign, which prioritizes personal relationships, avoids pomp and embraces awkwardness.
The low-key packaging of such a high-value endorsement also suggests that the Obamas, both powerful orators, may be waiting for the right moment to flex their speaking skills for maximum impact.
Harris will not have any public events Friday. She is expected to campaign in Georgia early next week, and her candidacy could revive Democrats’ electoral prospects.
