Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Kamala Harris for president, giving her two more high-profile Democratic endorsements as the vice president heads toward November's election against Republican Donald Trump.
In a video endorsement published Friday, the Obamas called Harris to offer their support, catching her while she appeared to be on the move between events.
"We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," the former president told Harris.
"I am proud of you. This is going to be historic," Michelle Obama told Harris, who appeared moved by the conversation.
“It's time for us to rally around you, your candidacy. This is not on you, it's not just on you and [second gentleman Doug Emhoff], it's on all of us," the former first lady said. "We've got to register, we've got to vote. ... So, let's all roll up our sleeves and make it happen.”
Harris thanked the Obamas for their words and friendship. "And we’re gonna have some fun with this too, aren’t we?"
The Obama endorsement is the highest profile backing that Harris has gotten since President Joe Biden endorsed her candidacy less than half an hour after ending his own chase for a second term. So far, the vice president has collected endorsements from 11 major national labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; more than three dozen advocacy groups; and Democratic leaders from across the country.
She also, within days of her announcement, clinched enough Democratic delegates to claim the nomination outright.
Obama is still an extremely popular figure in the Democratic Party, providing support to Biden for fundraisers and events during the campaign. He was among the last Democratic holdouts to not immediately endorse Harris after Biden exited the race. Instead, he put out a statement offering praise for his former vice president's decision and hailing his leadership.
"Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me," he said in a statement on Sunday, when Biden exited the race. "Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order."
Obama's name was invoked on Thursday by the Trump campaign in its comment about the ex-president refusing to commit to further general election debates until the Democratic nomination is solidified.
"Given the continued political chaos surrounding" the Democratic nominee, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement, "it would be inappropriate to schedule things with Harris because Democrats very well could still change their minds."
Cheung also claimed that "there is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party - namely Barack Hussein Obama" who may have misgivings about Harris "and they are still holding out for someone 'better,'" though that point appears to have been nullified with the Obamas' full-throated endorsement of the vice president.
"For him to look at the political landscape and decide that he should pass the torch to a new nominee is surely one of the toughest in his life," he later added. "But I know he wouldn’t make this decision unless he believed it was right for America. It’s a testament to Joe Biden’s love of country — and a historic example of a genuine public servant once again putting the interests of the American people ahead of his own that future generations of leaders will do well to follow."
The Obamas’ endorsement comes as the Harris campaign plans to launch a nationwide campaign blitz, with volunteers knocking on doors across the country, including in the battleground states of Arizona (with 65 events and 1,300 people planned to mobilize around the state); Michigan (where former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is expected to speak for Harris); Nevada (more than 50 events and 3,000 people); and Wisconsin, where she held her first campaign rally earlier this week.