Barack, Michelle Obama endorse Harris as Democrats’ best bet
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on the phone with former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as the Obamas endorse Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate in this still image taken from a video released today.
Stay updated on Hawaii and national elections coverageFormer President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid today, the latest move by top Democrats to unite around a new champion against Republican Donald Trump in the Nov. 5 election.
The Obamas’ endorsement came five days after President Joe Biden, 81, dropped his reelection bid in the face of mounting opposition within his own party, and as a fresh wave of opinion polls show Harris starting to erode Trump’s lead.
“We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama told Harris in a phone call posted in an online video by the campaign.
“I am proud of you. This is going to be historic,” the former first lady told Harris.
Smiling as she spoke into a cellphone, Harris expressed her gratitude for the endorsement and their long friendship.
“Thank you both. It means so much. And we’re gonna have some fun with this too,” said Harris, the first Black woman and first Asian American vice president, who would also be the nation’s first female president if she prevails in November.
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Barack Obama, the first Black U.S. president, and Michelle remain among the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, almost eight years after he left office. A Reuters/Ipsos poll early this month showed that 55% of Americans — and 94% of Democrats — viewed Michelle Obama favorably, higher approval than Harris’ 37% nationally and 81% within the party.
Obama has lent his support to Biden during big-money fundraisers, which were among some of the biggest blockbuster events of his campaign.
The endorsement could help boost support and fundraising for Harris’ campaign, and it signals Obama is likely to get on the campaign trail for Harris.
The party has quickly coalesced around the vice president, who gathered support from enough Democratic delegates on Monday to secure her position as the nominee.
TRUMP TO MEET NETANYAHU
Trump is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the former president’s Florida resort today, a day after Netanyahu sat down with Biden and Harris in separate meetings in Washington.
Harris struck a more forceful tone than Biden in her public remarks, pushing Netanyahu to help reach a ceasefire in Gaza. In a televised statement after their talks, Harris said, “It is time for this war to end.”
The conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israel.
Israel’s retaliatory assault on Gaza has killed more than 39,000, according to Gazan health authorities, and leveled much of the enclave. The response has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people and created a humanitarian crisis.
The Biden administration has drawn criticism from some Democrats for not pressing Netanyahu more to protect Palestinian civilians.
Trump has also called for a swift end to the war, telling Fox News on Thursday that Israel was getting “decimated with this publicity.”
