Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee, ending days of debate over whether he would endorse her.
Former President Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama said in a joint statement that they believe Vice President Harris has the “vision, the character and the strength that this critical moment demands.”
Obama was said to be among more than 100 prominent Democrats Harris spoke with after President Joe Biden announced last Sunday that he was dropping out of the race.
In a statement at the time, Obama praised Biden’s withdrawal from the race to the White House, but did not endorse Harris.
The American vice president has already obtained the support of the majority of Democrats, which will allow her to become the official candidate at the convention in August.
In a statement on Friday, the Obamas said they could not be “more thrilled to endorse” the vice president. They promised to do “everything we can” to elect her.
“We agree with President Biden,” said the couple’s statement, “choosing Kamala was one of the best decisions he’s made. She has the resume to prove it.”
They cited her record as California’s attorney general, US senator and then vice president.
“But Kamala has more than a resume,” the statement continued. “She has the vision, character and 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.
“At a time when the stakes have never been higher, she gives us all reason to hope.”
The statement was accompanied by a video of Harris calling the Obamas and pledging their support.
“Oh my goodness,” says the vice-president in the clip. “Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me.”
Harris has held several campaign events across the United States in the days after Biden dropped out of the race.
On Thursday, she spoke to the American Federation of Teachers union in Houston.
Although the event was considered one of her vice presidential duties, it had the elements of a campaign rally, with loud applause and cheers from the crowd.
Echoing language used at campaign events earlier this week, Harris took aim at “extreme” Republicans and “failed” politicians.
“We want to ban assault weapons, and they want to ban books,” she said.
Meanwhile, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump continued his efforts to attack his new rival.
“Lyin’ Kamala Harris is a Radical Left Marxist and worse!” he said in an all-capital-letters post on his social media site Truth Social.
Trump also refused to participate in a televised debate with Harris until she was officially confirmed as the party’s nominee.
He suggested that Democrats are still hoping for a better candidate.
Harris also held “frank and constructive” talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling him it was time to end the war between Israel and Gaza.
Israel launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in Gaza in response to an attack on southern Israel last October that killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
More than 39,000 people have died in Gaza since then, according to Hamas’ Health Ministry.
Kamala Harris said she explained her “serious concerns” for the victims in Gaza and told Netanyahu how Israel defended itself mattered.
Vice President Harris also emphasized the need to find a way to a two-state solution.
The Israeli prime minister also met with President Biden while at the White House and will meet with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday.
Source: BBC News
