Washington — Former President Barack Obama endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination Friday, calling her a “happy warrior” and vowing to do all he can to help her defeat former President Donald Trump in November.
In a video posted by her campaign, Harris takes a call from Obama and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama.
“We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama tells Harris over the phone.
Michelle Obama tells Harris, “I am proud of you. This is going to be historic.”
In the video, Harris tells them, “this means so much to me. I am looking forward to doing this with the two of you, Doug and I both, and getting out there, being on the road. But most of all, I just wanna tell you that the words you have spoken and the friendship that you have given over all these years mean more than I can express.”
And in a separate statement sent in a campaign email, the Obamas said they agreed with President Biden that selecting Harris as his running mate was “one of the best decisions he’s made.”
“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,” their statement read. “At a time when the stakes have never been higher, she gives us all reason to hope.”
With Obama’s endorsement, Harris has secured support from all major Democrats and party leaders in Congress. Mr. Biden was the first to back his vice president, doing so soon after he announced his exit from the presidential race. He was joined in a matter of days by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Harris and Obama have been in regular contact since Mr. Biden announced his decision to drop out, a source familiar with the matter said, noting they have known each other for 20 years.
Harris has also won the backing of Democratic governors who are considered rising stars in the party and were viewed as possible contenders to seek the party’s nomination in the event of Mr. Biden’s withdrawal, such as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
No other Democrat has announced their candidacy for the presidential nod. Harris has secured endorsements from more than 40 state delegations, surpassing the number of delegates she will need to win the nomination. If that support holds, Democrats will officially nominate her for president during a virtual roll call vote early next month.
Under new rules adopted by the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday, the nominee will be selected as soon as Aug. 1, and the candidate, likely Harris, has until Aug. 7 to select a running mate. The party will meet for its convention in Chicago starting Aug. 19.
Harris launched her presidential campaign hours after Mr. Biden announced in a letter to the American people that he would be forgoing his bid for a second term. The decision came after the president faced weeks of mounting pressure to step aside following his startling debate performance against Trump last month, which raised concerns about his fitness for a second term and ability to defeat his GOP opponent in November.
In an Oval Office address Wednesday, his first since revealing he would not seek reelection, Mr. Biden acknowledged it was time to “pass the torch” to a new generation of leaders.
“I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America’s future, all merited a second term,” he said. “But nothing — nothing — can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition.”
The president hailed Harris as “experienced,” “tough” and “capable.”
Harris, who was a senator from California before her election as vice president, quickly hit the campaign trail with events in Wisconsin, Indiana and Texas. Her campaign said it raked in more than $100 million between Sunday afternoon, when she officially joined the White House race, and Monday evening.
— Fin Gómez and Nidia Cavazos contributed reporting.
