Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris for US president in video of live call
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Talking into a cell phone, US Vice-President Kamala Harris expressed her gratitude for Mr Barack Obama and his wife Michelle's endorsement.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - Former United States president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle endorsed Ms Kamala Harris’ bid for president on July 26 in a roughly one-minute video that captured a private phone call between the couple and the current vice-president.
“We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Mr Obama told Ms Harris.
“I am proud of you. This is going to be historic,” the former first lady told Ms Harris.
Talking into a cellphone and cracking a few smiles, Ms Harris expressed her gratitude for the endorsement and their long friendship.
“Thank you both. It means so much. And we’re gonna have some fun with this too,” she said.
The campaign said the video was the actual call, not a re-enactment.
Ms Harris’ surprise bid against Republican rival Donald Trump
Mr Obama, the first US black president, remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party even after more than a decade has passed since he was last elected.
He has lent his support to Mr Biden during big-money fund raisers, which were among some of the biggest blockbuster events of his campaign.
The endorsement could help activate and sustain energy and fund raising for Ms Harris’ campaign and it signals that Mr Obama is likely to get on the campaign trail for Ms Harris once she is officially the presumptive nominee.
Mr Obama initially withheld his endorsement even as Mr Biden, his former vice-president, anointed her as his heir apparent. Mr Obama reportedly did not want to put his thumb on the scale as the party worked through the process of determining its nominee. REUTERS
