WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president on Friday, just days after she launched her campaign after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
“Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to support you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama said in a video showing Harris receiving a phone call from the Obamas.
Michelle Obama says no approximately one minute video: “I can’t take this phone call without telling my girl Kamala: I’m proud of you. This is going to be historic.”
Obama, the first black president, and Harris, who could become the first female president, have been in close contact since she announced her candidacy on Sunday, and he has been fully supportive in private, according to four people familiar with their discussions, NBC News has reported.
“He has been in regular contact with her and thinks she is off to a good start,” one said.
Aides to Obama and Harris have discussed appearing together on the campaign trail at some point, three people familiar with the discussions said.
Obama supported Biden’s re-election effort but had “concerns” about Biden’s prospects in November following his poor debate performance in late June.
Moments after announcing he would drop out of the race on Sunday, Biden endorsed Harris for president, and Democrats quickly rallied around her.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also supported Harris in a joint statement on Sunday.
Although Obama praised Biden’s leadership as president and his life dedicated to public service in a statement released the day he made his announcement, he did not support Harris at the time.
Harris and Obama’s political lives have become intertwined over the past two decades as they campaigned and supported each other for various elected positions. When she was San Francisco district attorney, Harris was co-president from Obama’s campaign in California when he ran for president as a senator. During the race, she attended Obama’s launch speech in Springfield, Illinois; campaigned for him in Iowa, Nevada, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire; and attended his victory speech in Chicago’s Grant Park when he won the general election, the San Francisco Chronicle reported at the time.
Shortly after Obama’s victory in 2008, Harris announced that she would run for attorney general of California, telling the ChrONick: “It’s true that Obama excited a whole new generation of voters – and… they cut across all ages and categories. But they are an enthusiastic group of people who feel good about the country and want to be involved in it – and those are the people I want to talk to.”
In 2010, Obama endorsed Harris for attorney general, a position she won and held for six years. And in 2016, he endorsed and cut a TV ad for Harris when she ran for the Senate.
Obama also named Harris’ brother-in-law, Tony West — another prolific Obama supporter — to head the Justice Department’s Civil Division in 2009. He became the Justice Department’s associate attorney general in the Obama administration.
Megan Lebowitz contributed.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
