WASHINGTON – Former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris have been in close contact since she announced her presidential candidacy on Sunday, having several conversations this week at the start of her campaign, according to four people familiar with the discussions.
Obama privately fully supported Harris’ candidacy and plans to support her soon, these people said.
“He has been in regular contact with her and thinks she is off to a good start,” one said.
Obama is one of the only prominent Democrats in the country who has not yet endorsed Harris. Although other party leaders have come forward to support her publicly, he has so far maintained his support privately.
People familiar with the discussions did not know the precise timing of his endorsement. One of them said Obama didn’t want it to overshadow President Joe Bidenmoment, especially your address in the Oval Office to the nation on Wednesday night.
Another person familiar with the discussions said Obama and Harris, who are seeking to maintain the momentum his campaign has enjoyed among Democrats since entering the race, wanted his endorsement to be its own moment.
Aides to Obama and Harris have also discussed the possibility of the two appearing on the campaign trail together, although no date has been set, three people familiar with the discussions said.
michelle obama also supports Harris’ candidacy, two people familiar with the matter said.
“President Obama looks forward to helping Democrats across the board at the polls make the case to voters this fall,” said Eric Schultz, a senior adviser to Obama. “Our strategy will be based on making an impact, especially where and when his voice can make a difference.”
During talks in recent days, Obama offered Harris his advice on building a campaign and other aspects of preparing for a successful run for the White House, which he did twice, people familiar with the discussions said.
From Obama’s perspective, Harris has taken on too much responsibility in too little time, and he sees himself as a resource and sounding board for her as she navigates a high-stakes campaign with about 100 days until Election Day, according to with two of the people familiar with their discussions.
Obama sees his usefulness on the campaign trail as helping to unify his party and move Democrats forward, and is expected to be a constant presence on the campaign trail this fall.
The only publicly known phone call between Obama and Harris occurred on Sunday, when Biden announced he was ending his re-election campaign and quickly endorsed Harris.
Obama issued a statement Sunday praising Biden and supporting the process to select a new Democratic nominee, but did not endorse Harris.
“We will navigate uncharted waters in the coming days,” Obama said in the statement. “But I have extraordinary confidence that our party’s leaders will be able to create a process from which a remarkable candidate will emerge.”
Harris then quickly received support from across the country and no one stepped up to challenge her for the nomination.
Since Biden’s June 27 debate performance, Obama has privately expressed concerns about his former vice president’s ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in November, NBC News reported. He has not publicly or privately called for Biden to remain in the race, although he defended his debate performance by writing on X that he understood how was have a weak presidential debate.
Obama and Harris have known each other for years. She was an early supporter of his 2008 campaign and was given a speaking role at his 2012 nominating convention. Obama campaigned for Harris when she ran for attorney general in California and supported her when she ran for Senate in 2016.
This article was originally published in NBCNews. with
