Barack Obama, wife Michelle endorse Kamala Harris for US president

“Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris . We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support. At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in November. We hope you’ll join us,” Obama posted on X.

Michelle Obama, the former First Lady, said,”I’m so proud of my girl, Kamala. Barack and I are so excited to endorse her as the Democratic nominee because of her positivity, sense of humor, and ability to bring light and hope to people all across the country. We’ve got your back.”

Harris, 59, has secured enough pledged delegates to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination, this days after incumbent president Joe Biden opted out of the presidential race.

“It has been the greatest honour of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden had said in a letter.

Both Barack and Michelle Obama had campaigned separately for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020, including large rallies on the closing weekends before Election Day.

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Biden had taken the decision amid mounting pressure from the Democrats asking him not to run for a second term. The Democrats were alarmed by his debate performance against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that amplified worries that the oldest US president would not be able to win the election at age 81.

Biden served two terms as Obama’s vice president, a selection which pulled him out of the Senate and thrust him onto the national stage.

While Obama had earlier defended Biden’s decision to seek reelection, he privately conveyed to allies that his one-time running mate’s path was more challenging after the calamitous debate, the Washington Post reported.