BARACK Obama has officially endorsed Kamala Harris in her bid to become the Democratic nominee for president.
The former commander-in-chief, 62, shared a statement with his wife Michelle Obama as Donald Trump blasted the new front-runner as a “San Francisco radical” and “Marxist fraud.”
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Obama’s public support came after reports emerged that he was going to back the current vice president.
Obama shared an X post where he and Michelle said Harris had their “full support,” after not rushing to endorse her following Joe Biden’s announcement on Sunday that he would be ending his re-election campaign.
“Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris,” the former president said.
“We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support.”
“She’d had a pretty busy couple of days, to say the least,” the former president added, according to Axios.
Obama’s endorsement comes after:
- Joe Biden addressed the nation in a televised speech on Wednesday night
- The president threw his support behind Kamala Harris as he vowed to “pass the torch”
- Harris secured enough delegates to win the Democratic presidential nomination
- The Democratic front-runner obtained support from more big-name Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Bill Clinton
- The current vice president raised $50 million in donations a day after she accepted Biden’s endorsement and has since received more than $100 million.
- Donald Trump attacked Harris on a social media post following Biden’s speech
“But we couldn’t be more excited for her — or more thrilled to endorse Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.”
Former First Lady Michelle, who has also been touted as a potential party leader, also shared her own message of support to the current Democratic favorite.
“I’m so proud of my girl, Kamala,” she said.
“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.”
Obama shared a video of the pair calling Harris to throw their support behind her.
The clip was filmed on Wednesday before she travelled to Indianapolis, Indiana, to address the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta
The pair shared several of well wishes to Harris, giving her campaign another major boost among her party.
“This going to be historic,” Michelle said Harris.
Harris thanked them for their friendship and support, adding: “We’re gonna have some fun with this too, aren’t we?”
Hours before the endorsement went public Trump lashed out at his presumptive rival the Republican candidate shared a scathing social media post.
Trump branded Harris a “San Francisco Radical,” on Truth Social.
He posted a video that claimed Harris was soft on immigration and called her a “cop hater.”
His campaign had also said Trump will not commit to a debate until the party’s nominee is confirmed, according to the Trump campaign’s communications director.
“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,” they said.
This comes after days of speculation after Joe Biden’s made his surprise exit from the race on Sunday.
Biden gave a 12-minute speech to the nation on Wednesday where he said his reason for stepping down was to “save democracy.”
“Nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy and that includes personal ambition,” Biden said.
Biden had also backed his vice president to take over his role in the campaign trail and lead the Democratic Party.
Obama did not immediately show public support to Harris as he was reportedly worried about ensuring that Biden got his moment with his address from the Oval Office.
10 Days that Changed America
AN attempted assassination of a former US president, the standing down of a current president, and a political speech by a former wrestler. Senior News reporter Anthony Blair looks back on a crazy 10 days in American politics.
- Saturday, July 13 – Donald Trump is shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Republican frontrunner is hit in the ear but stands up and pumps his fist to the crowd. Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, is shot dead but the Secret Service is slammed for suspected security blunders. Ex-fire chief Corey Comperatore is killed protecting his family.
- Sunday, July 14 – President Joe Biden calls on Americans to unite and “cool down” political rhetoric in the wake of Trump’s shooting. The Democrat had faced growing calls since his disastrous performance in June’s CNN debate. Shocking video reveals how close Trump came to being killed after turning his head at the last minute.
- Monday, July 15 – The Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump is formally nominated as the Republican candidate. An emotional-looking Trump makes his first appearance since surviving the shooting wearing a large ear bandage. It quickly becomes a must-have fashion item at the RNC. Ohio Senator JD Vance is named as Trump’s running mate. Previously anti-Trump, Vance at just 39 is an inexperienced choice, but seen as having a connection with ordinary Americans. In an interview, Biden admits it was a “mistake” to talk about putting Trump in “the bullseye” days before the assassination attempt.
- Tuesday, July 16 – The FBI warns of more potential violence in the wake of Trump’s shooting. Intelligence claims Iran had a separate plot to assassinate Trump, but there is no proven link to Crooks. Biden returns to the campaign trail for the first time since the assassination attempt and insists he isn’t stepping down.
- Wednesday, July 17 – Joe Biden tests positive for Covid, just days after saying he would drop out of the presidential race if he was diagnosed with a medical condition. It intensifies the calls for him to step aside with Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom floated as potential replacements. At the RNC, JD Vance makes his first speech since being selected as Trump’s VP pick, to the delight of the MAGA crowd.
- Thursday, July 18 – Donald Trump addresses the RNC, his first speech since surviving an attempted assassination. He appears slower and more subdued than usual but gives the longest convention acceptance speech in US history. Just before he goes on, former wrestler Hulk Hogan rips his shirt off and tells cheering crowds “Trumpomania” will sweep America. Former First Lady Melania, who has barely been seen on the campaign trail, makes an appearance but does not speak. Barack Obama joins calls for Biden to step aside.
- Friday, July 19 – President Biden appears to consider resigning, as a source says he is in a “contemplative stage” while isolating with Covid. Video emerges showing Biden appearing to kiss the wrong woman after mistaking her for his wife Jill. Meanwhile, the world’s biggest tech outage sparks travel chaos for Republicans leaving the RNC in Milwaukee.
- Saturday, July 20 – Donald Trump holds his first campaign rally since the shooting in Butler. He appears in Michigan without his ear bandage. His former doctor Ronny Jackson describes his injuries. He appears in his first interview alongside his running mate Vance. Senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi speaks for the first time since being linked to growing calls for Biden to resign. Meanwhile, Biden’s reelection campaign continues to insist he is running, as a spokesperson slams Trump’s rally remarks as showing he is “focused only on himself.”
- Sunday, July 21 – Joe Biden announces he isn’t running in November in a shock letter, just hours after insisting he was staying in the race. He is the first incumbent to step down in their first term since 1968. Biden endorses Kamala Harris for president as senior Dems through their support behind the Vice President. The news appears to throw the Republicans off their stride. Biden vows to continue his term until November’s election.
- Monday, July 22 – Kamala Harris raises a record $81 million in 24 hours as she secures the Democratic candidacy. She also inherits some $91 million in leftover campaign funds from Biden. Harris gives her first speech since Biden stepped out, and speaks to the president on the phone, although he doesn’t appear in person. Under-pressure Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle appears on Capitol Hill and faces increasing calls to resign over the shooting of Trump. She admits the Secret Service “failed” on July 13 and resigns the following day.
BIG SUPPORT
Harris has also gained mass support from other big-name Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Bill Clinton, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, and the House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The presidential hopeful secured 2,668 delegates just a day after Biden’s withdrawal.
This number has superseded the minimum of 1,976 required to win on a first ballot.
Her move to the top of her party would become official after delegates hold a roll call vote ahead of the Democratic National Convention scheduled for August 19-22, in Chicago.
No other Democratic party candidates have stepped forward to challenge Harris’ bid.
VP CONTENDERS
The main question circling across Washington D.C. is who the favorite will pick as her potential Vice President.
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Some potential names have included the North Carolina governor Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania’s governor Josh Shapiro, and Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer.
The current vice president is reportedly set to announce her running partner by August 7, according to The New York Times.
Harris’ bid has also received mass support among Democratic voters as her donations soared to $50 million just one day after Biden backed her.
She has since received more than $100 million in campaign funds through ActBlue.
Harris’s campaign will also inherit a reported additional $95 million that were raised for Biden and Harris’s re-election bid, according to Politico.
NARROWING LEAD
Harris’s fresh candidacy news has spurred a change in the polls, as the lead gap between Donald Trump and the Democrats narrows, according to a poll by The New York Times and Siena College.
This data showed that the gap dropped from a six point lead to Trump down to just one point.
The poll also shared that Democratic support had shot up to a huge 70% among party voters.
Only 14% said they would prefer a different candidate in the race.
BACK TO BUSINESS
Harris swiftly got to work on her campaign with a rally in Wisconsin on Tuesday.
She unleashed a series of attacks on Trump and branded the former president a criminal on her arrival at the battleground state.
The crowd chanted “Lock him up!” as she spoke about Trump’s convictions.
Harris also held a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday during his visit to The U.S.
TRUMP TALKS
Trump shared his disapproval of Harris as he slammed his likely new rival in a scathing social media post.
The former president shared an image of him watching Biden’s leaving speech on his private jet.
Trump blasted the current commander-in-chief and turned his attacks to the current vice president, in a post on Truth Social.
“CROOKED JOE BIDEN AND LYIN’ KAMALA HARRIS ARE A GREAT EMBARRASSMENT TO AMERICA — THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME LIKE THIS!” he said.
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