Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for her presidential bid. The endorsement was made in a video released on Friday, where the Obamas expressed their pride and support for Harris.
In the video, Barack Obama praised Harris for her vision, character, and strength, stating that she has what it takes to win the election and deliver for the American people. Michelle Obama also commended Harris, calling the upcoming election historic and expressing her pride in the vice president.
The Obamas' endorsement comes after Harris' announcement as the presumptive Democratic nominee. Obama had been in touch with Harris regularly and had been serving as a sounding board for her, drawing on their 20-year friendship.
Obama's decision to endorse Harris was a strategic one, as he wanted to ensure a legitimate process for selecting the Democratic nominee. He had previously refrained from endorsing Harris immediately after President Joe Biden's announcement that he would not seek reelection, in order to allow the party to go through the nomination process.
The Democratic Party has been moving swiftly in their nomination process, with voting to officially nominate Harris expected to begin on August 1. The party has adopted rules for the nomination process, with the Democratic convention scheduled to take place in Chicago from August 19 to 22.
Harris has yet to select a running mate, but a team of lawyers and advisers are working on an accelerated vice presidential search, aiming to announce a nominee before August 7.
