USA Obama supports Harris as presidential candidate
Former US President Barack Obama is backing his party colleague Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for the November election. He and his wife Michelle will do everything they can to ensure that Harris wins, Obama announced on the X platform. In a video published with the post, Harris could be seen taking a call from the Obamas. Harris' campaign team also announced that the 59-year-old had the support of the Obamas.
26.07.2024, 11:23
SDA
Obama's endorsement is not formally decisive for the further procedure. Politically, however, it is a weighty endorsement for Harris. Obama is one of the most influential voices in the Democratic Party and a highly effective fundraiser.
Following the withdrawal of incumbent Joe Biden from the current election campaign, the former president had initially held back with a formal expression of solidarity for Harris, while other high-ranking Democrats immediately stepped forward and announced their support for her. 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.
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 for the election on November 5 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 rests with the delegates
The decision as to whether Harris will actually be the Democratic presidential candidate lies with party delegates from all states. 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 conference 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.
