Both former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
The Harris campaign released a video early Friday morning showing the likely Democratic presidential nominee taking a call from the political power couple where they reveal they’re endorsing her.
The video was filmed Wednesday in Indianapolis, where Harris traveled to address the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
The couple’s decision to stay silent for days on Harris’s candidacy had fueled speculation they weren’t supportive of her bid.
An source close to Biden’s family claimed the former president is ‘very upset’ about Harris’ candidacy, even claiming that he ‘knows she can’t win’ against Trump, 78.
However, a Democratic official told DailyMail.com that the endorsement announcement was held off to not overshadow President Joe Biden’s Oval Office address Wednesday night.
‘Kamala!’ the brief clip begins, with President Obama’s distinct voice coming over the VP’s cell phone. ‘Hey there!’ chimes in Michelle.
The Harris campaign released a video early Friday morning that shows former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama calling Vice President Kamala Harris to endorse her presidential run
As Harris walks through the event venue toward her SUV, she gushes, ‘ohh hi, you’re both together. It’s good to hear you both.’
‘I can’t have this phone call without saying to my girl Kamala, I am proud of you,’ Michelle says. ‘This is going to be historic.’
‘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,’ the former president chimes in.
There were some questions about why the Obamas didn’t immediately back Harris as other top Democrats got in line.
The Democratic official told DailyMail.com that the former president wanted to do something ‘more than a statement.’
A source familiar also confirmed earlier this week that an endorsement would come soon, but the former president, while very impressed with Harris’ work, thought it was important to let Democratic delegates go through their process.
Just days after Biden had dropped out, Harris announced she had secured enough delegates to become the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Ahead of the endorsement announcement, the Trump campaign pushed the narrative that Obama was displeased that the party coalesced around Harris, with enough delegates endorsing her Monday night she had locked up the nomination.
‘There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party – namely Barack Hussein Obama – that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone ‘better,” said Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung Thursday night.
Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and former President Barack Obama (right) attend an event at the White House in April 2022 celebrating the Affordable Care Act, also known as ‘Obamacare’
President Barack Obama (right) is seen leading President Joe Biden (center) offstage at the star-studded fundraiser in June with George Clooney, an appearance that led Clooney to encourage Biden to leave the race
The broader intent of the statement was to say that Republican rival, former President Donald Trump, would not finalize a debate schedule until ‘Democrats formally decide on their nominee.’
The Democratic nomination process, which will take place virtually ahead of the Chicago convention, will wrap up by August 7.
In the short video, Harris told the Obamas she was looking forward to seeing them out on the campaign trail.
While the former president appeared at several high-dollar fundraiser on behalf of Biden – including the infamous one with George Clooney – Michelle has yet to set foot at a campaign event.
She had privately expressed frustration that the Biden family had largely exiled her close friend Kathleen Buhle, Hunter Biden’s first wife, and mother of his three adult children, according to a report last month from Axios.
But it appears with Harris at the helm, Michelle’s at the ready.
Harris thanked both Obamas before she got off the phone.
‘I just want to 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,’ she said. ‘So thank you both, it means so much.’
‘And we’re going to have some fun with it too, aren’t we?’ she asked.
Michelle chimed in, ‘Indeed!’
‘Well … look, you’re a happy warrior,’ the former president said.
‘And the country needs a happy warrior,’ Michelle added.
This is not the first time the Obamas have delayed making an endorsement later than other prominent Democrats in the presidential race.
In 2020, despite Biden being the only Democratic candidate left in the race by April, President Obama did not officially endorse his former vice president for several months.
In August, he made it official also with a video endorsement ahead of the Democratic National Convention that year.
