USA Obama assures Harris of full support in US election campaign
It is possibly the last important piece of the puzzle for Kamala Harris on the way to her nomination as the US Democratic presidential candidate: Former US President Barack Obama has thrown his support behind the Vice President's candidacy.
26.07.2024, 16:39
26.07.2024, 16:40
SDA
He and his wife Michelle will do everything they can to ensure that Harris wins, Obama announced on the X platform.
The Democrats skillfully showcased the support of the popular former head of state. In a video published by Obama, a beaming Harris can be seen answering a call from the Obamas while on the campaign trail. "Kamala?" Obama can be heard shouting into the receiver. "Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to support you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office."
"Oh my gosh," Harris responds. "Michelle, Barack - this means so much to me." She says she's looking forward to campaigning with them. "Thank you both. (...) And we'll have a bit of fun along the way, won't we?"
Obama's endorsement is not formally decisive for the further procedure of Harris' nomination. The decision as to whether Harris actually becomes the Democratic candidate for the election on November 5 lies with party delegates from all states. Politically, however, it is a weighty endorsement. Obama is one of the most influential voices in the Democratic Party - and a highly effective fundraiser.
Obama initially took his time
The ex-president took his time for a few days. While a number of Democrats immediately rushed forward and announced their support for the 59-year-old Vice President after the withdrawal of incumbent Joe Biden from the election campaign, the Obamas initially only issued a formal statement of solidarity.
US media reported, citing sources close to Obama, that the former president did not want to get involved in the internal party debate too early and initially wanted to keep the focus on Biden's political successes.
This is reminiscent of Obama's approach before the US election in 2020, when Biden wanted to become the Democratic candidate. Biden's campaign team hoped that Obama would publicly back his former running mate early on. But he took his time and said he did not want to be the deciding factor.
Democrats rally around Harris
Biden had come under massive pressure in his own party due to his age of 81 and doubts about his mental state, ultimately bowing to the withdrawal demands of various party colleagues and announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race a few days ago.
Biden himself proposed his deputy Harris as a replacement candidate to run against the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The party quickly rallied around its new leader. Harris was able to secure the support of all the party's big names, including Democratic congressional leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, former House of Representatives leader Nancy Pelosi and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who herself ran as a presidential candidate against Trump in 2016.
Decision now up to the delegates
According to US media estimates, the US Vice President already has enough delegate votes for a nomination. The party wants to clarify the personnel issue virtually before the party convention in mid-August. The responsible committee of the Democratic Party approved the procedure for this. An electronic vote could therefore start on August 1 at the earliest.
The Democrats actually wanted to officially select their presidential candidate at a major nomination convention from August 19 to 22 in Chicago. However, even before Biden's withdrawal, the party leadership had already moved forward with plans to bring forward the candidate selection. This has to do with the deadlines in the states by which the parties must have confirmed their candidates in order to be on the ballot. It remains to be seen who Harris will choose as her running mate.
Obama and Harris have been linked for a long time
In 2008, Obama was elected the first black president of the United States. He ruled in the White House from January 2009 to January 2017 and was then replaced by Trump. Harris has long been considered a confidante of Obama and also spoke at the Democratic Party convention in 2012, where Obama was once again nominated as the presidential candidate.
Harris will be the first woman and first black woman to hold the office of US Vice President in 2021. Should she actually beat Trump as the party's nominee, Harris would be the first woman, the first black woman and the first person with Asian roots to enter the White House. However, it remains to be seen how realistic her chances are.
