The only one missing was Barack Obama. On Friday, the former president and his wife Michelle, a star couple in American politics, gave their support to the new Democratic candidate for the November presidential election. Six days after entering the campaign, Kamala Harris has been knighted and can compete as the undisputed champion of her camp.
The Obamas and the Harris team released a video Friday of Kamala Harris in motion, answering a call on her cell phone: “We’re calling to tell you that Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder, that we support you and that we’re going to do everything we can to help you win this election and the Oval Office,” Barack’s voice says. Michelle affectionately calls her “my girl Kamala.”
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… pic.twitter.com/0UIS0doIbA
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 26, 2024
While Kamala Harris is sometimes attacked for having come to office because of her skin color (she is of Indian and Jamaican origin), the Obamas did not mention this aspect. They praised the candidate’s accomplishments: the commitment to justice of the former attorney general of California, the senator’s battles to confound the Trump administration, and those of the vice president to extend the “Obamacare” health coverage, fight climate change, defend the right to abortion, equality, the rule of law.
Obama’s Choice
“But Kamala has more than a resume. She has the vision, the character and the strength required at this critical moment,” the couple added as the populists are on the verge of power. Donald Trump continues to lead the race for the presidency. Kamala Harris has, however, managed to erase the gap that had opened up between the Republican candidate and the Democrat following a calamitous televised duel for Joe Biden in late June. She is now close behind the Republican candidate, within the margin of error.
Barack Obama’s support was slow to come, because he did not want to agree with the Republicans, who accuse the Democrats of flouting the results of the primaries and the choice of the base. The former president apparently preferred that the party take the time to choose between several candidates, to establish the legitimacy of the nominee.
Barack Obama is considered a kingmaker. Already, in mid-July, his behind-the-scenes discussions about the possibility of Joe Biden withdrawing had hurt the president, who was convinced that his predecessor was pulling the strings of a conspiracy.
A vote brought forward to Thursday
With this heavyweight endorsement, the stars have aligned for Kamala Harris. The Clintons have already thrown their support behind her, as have the Democratic leaders in Congress. A whirlwind campaign within the party has allowed the new candidate to win a majority of delegate votes at the Chicago convention in two days. The big event is the week of August 19, but an early vote could come as early as Thursday, initially for technical reasons (the deadline for her name to appear on the ballot in Ohio).
Now, Kamala Harris’ priority is to choose her vice president. She must nominate him before Wednesday, August 7, the deadline for Ohio. The best placed candidates seem to be male and white governors, in order to cast a wider net on the voters’ side. The candidate was notably due to campaign alongside Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania on Saturday morning.
Her team also released a first ad, on the theme of “freedom” (to abort, to flourish in life, etc.), to the sound of “Freedom” by Beyoncé. “I’ve had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to get through it,” the pop star chants.