New Delhi: Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle have officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris who has replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.
This comes five days after Biden announced his withdrawal from the race against Republican Donald Trump.
“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,” Barack Obama told the sitting vice president over a phone call Friday.
“I can’t have this phone call without saying to my girl, Kamala, I am proud of you. This is going to be historic,” Michelle could be heard saying.
“Michelle and Barack — this means so much to me,” Harris replied.
Harris, 59, has received a slew of endorsements from several Democratic high-profile figures.
Earlier this week, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally endorsed Harris saying: “Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute – and I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November.” Pelosi is believed to play a key role in pressuring an ageing Biden to step down, though he was initially keen to seek re-election.
According to reports, 268 sitting Democrat lawmakers have endorsed Harris as the party’s nominee. As reported by The New York Times, 23 governors, 45 senators and 200 representatives have officially thrown their weight behind the sitting vice president.
The Democratic Party will officially announce its presidential candidate on 19 August at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The vice-presidential pick will also be announced during the event.
If Harris wins the presidency, she will make history as the first woman to ascend to the highest political office in the US. As she inches closer to the nomination, there is still uncertainty about who her running mate will be.
It is likely the party will choose a white male candidate from a swing state. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and others are being considered for the post.
In US elections, swing states — which have a chequered history of voting either red or blue — can decide a presidency. States expected to decide this year’s election are Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, and North Carolina.
Prior to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved three key swing states of Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, from “Toss Up” to “Lean Republican”.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Kamala Harris leads Trump with 2% margin in US Presidential elections after Biden’s dropout