Obama offers his support to Kamala Harris

Photo: Carolyn Kaster Associated Press Former President Barack Obama chats with Kamala Harris during a ceremony at the White House in April 2022.

Brendan Smialowski – Agence France-Presse and Frankie Taggart – Agence France-Presse in Washington

Published yesterday at 8:13 AM Updated yesterday at 3:32 PM

• United States

Barack and Michelle Obama announced Friday that they are supporting Kamala Harris' candidacy for the November presidential election, giving the vice president crucial support for the rapid campaign she must lead against Donald Trump.

The powerful endorsement complements the 59-year-old former senator’s efforts to unite Democrats behind her as time runs out.

In less than a week since Joe Biden announced Sunday that she would withdraw, Harris has given Democrats a boost and pushed Donald Trump to refocus his campaign.

The Republican nominee, who expected to face an 81-year-old incumbent who is plagued by health problems and a habit of gaffes, instead finds herself facing an energetic replacement who is two decades younger.

The public declaration of support from the Obamas, who wield immense influence over the Democratic camp, came in a video released early Friday, in which Harris is seen responding to their call.

“Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me,” a smiling Kamala Harris said, according to a video released by her campaign. “And we're all going to have fun with all of this, aren't we ?” she added.

Barack Obama, who waited until all the other heavyweights had come forward, added on X: “At this critical moment for our country, we're going to do everything in our power to make sure she wins in November,” saying she would make a “fantastic president.”

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The Democratic campaign floundered for weeks, weighed down by debates around Joe Biden's age, physical and mental condition and unfavorable polls.

The outgoing president, aged 81, finally gave up on Sunday and explained that he had taken this shocking decision to “save democracy” and make way for “younger voices”.

New dynamic

The support of former President Obama (2009-2017) comes amplify the growing momentum gained by the campaign of the woman who served as a prosecutor and senator from California before being elected the country's first woman and first black and South Asian vice-president.

< p>Ms. Harris has enjoyed a wave of support from unions, ethnic minorities and her party since she announced her candidacy. And polls confirm a surge in popularity for the Democratic camp.

This new dynamic is also visible on the ground: people flock to listen to her, even to speak via videoconference, fundraising is breaking records and volunteers are flocking to the field…

On Friday morning, support came from the Paris Olympics, with American track and field legend Allyson Felix estimating that a victory for Ms. Harris in November “would be monumental.”

With the support of her camp, Kamala Harris said on Thursday that she was “ready” to debate with Donald Trump. But the latter has for now dodged the issue, considering it “inopportune” to organize a face-to-face meeting before she is officially nominated. This should happen in early August, two weeks before the Democratic convention in Chicago.

“Trump has agreed to a debate on September 10. Now he appears to be backpedaling,” the vice president said.

The former Republican president, who is now the oldest presidential candidate in history, had agreed to debate Joe Biden twice ahead of the November presidential election, on June 27 and September 10.

“Failure to adapt”

The Republican billionaire has savaged Kamala Harris this week, accusing her of supporting “baby execution” in an anti-abortion rant. The former president, who was officially inaugurated last week at the Republican convention after surviving an assassination attempt, has also dubbed her “Kamala the Liar.”

Pete Buttigieg, the Biden administration’s transportation secretary and a major supporter of Harris’ campaign, mocked Mr. Trump for his “inability to adapt.” “That shows he’s afraid. “It shows that he knows that if they both end up on a stage, it's not going to end well for him,” he said on MSNBC.

On Friday, Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Florida residence. “If we win, it's going to be very simple. Everything's going to be sorted out and very quickly,” the former president assured.

And according to him, “we are now closer to a third world war than at any time since World War II […], because incompetent people are running our country.”

The day before, during a meeting with the Israeli leader, Kamala Harris promised not to remain “silent” about the suffering of civilians.