Obama endorses Kamala Harris for president : ‘She has the vision, the character and the strength ‘

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president in a video released Friday.

“Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through his election and into the Oval Office,” Mr. Obama said in a phone call to Ms. Harris.

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

A video of the call was posted online by the Harris campaign.

Ms. Harris thanked the Obamas for their support and acknowledged their friendship.

“Oh my goodness, Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me. I’m looking forward to doing this with the two of you, Doug and I both, and getting out there, being on the road,” the vice president said.

Ms. Harris said endorsement and the Obamas’ friendship “means more than I can express.”

“And we’re gonna have some with this too, aren’t we,” she said.

Mrs. Obama told the vice president that she was proud of her and called her candidacy “historic.”

When Democratic Party leaders were pressuring President Biden to drop out of the race, rampant speculation pointed to Mrs. Obama as a welcome replacement atop the ticket. Mrs. Obama didn’t encourage the speculation and the endorsement Monday likely ended the chatter.

The Obamas separately released a joint statement praising Ms. Harris and detailing her accomplishments.

“She has the vision, the character and the strength that this critical moment demands. There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people,” the statement said.

The highly anticipated endorsement ends any speculation that Mrs. Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, might not have the full support of the Obamas.

Questions about the Obamas’ support rose in the aftermath of President Biden’s shocking announcement that he was not seeking reelection. Mr. Obama issued a statement but did not immediately endorse Ms. Harris, despite Mr. Biden declaring his support for her candidacy.

“I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” Mr. Obama said in a statement at the time.

The Obamas, arguably the Democratic Party’s most popular couple, are expected to hit the campaign trail this summer and fall to promote Ms. Harris. Both are expected to key speaking slots at the party’s upcoming convention in Chicago next month.

The Obamas’ backing helps Ms. Harris continue the momentum since declaring her candidacy less than a week ago. In the first 24 hours since Mr. Biden backed out, her campaign operations raised $81 million. She has also appeared to closed the polling deficits Mr. Biden was trailing Mr. Trump by as much as six percentage points, according to polls. Ms. Harris is only behind Mr. Trump by one percentage point, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll released Thursday.