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Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race.
Following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would not seek re-election, Obama did not immediately endorse Harris.
However, a source told CNN that Obama thought the Democratic Party needed to have a valid process by which delegates choose their next nominee.
In a video released Friday morning, the Obamas can be heard telling Harris they will support her.
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 Obama said.
“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,” former President Obama said following his wife.
The former president then called Harris a “happy warrior.”
“It’s time for us to rally around you, your candidacy. This is not on you, it’s not just on you and Doug, it’s on all of us. … We’ve got to register, we’ve got to vote. … So, let’s all roll up our sleeves and make it happen,” the former first lady said in a statement.
WATCH:
🚨 JUST IN: Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama has just released a video officially endorsing Kamala Harris for President.
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pic.twitter.com/TmaUgLPrxy— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) July 26, 2024
There have been several names swirling about as a potential running mate for Harris after Biden dropped his reelection bid and endorsed her, but a new name has surfaced that already has Democrats buzzing.
In an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed his support for Harris and appeared to entertain the notion of running with her.
“We had a great conversation,” Buttigieg said. “You know, I have campaigned alongside her. I have traveled with her. I have served with her. And she’s going to be an extraordinary leader for the ticket, for the party, and for the country as president.”
When asked if he would accept if Harris asked him to run with her, he was diplomatic in his response.
“She’s going to make that decision. She’s going to do it based on what’s best for the country, best for the party, and best for the ticket. I will do everything in my power to make sure that she is the next president because it’s so important and it’s really most of all important in terms of how everyday life is going to change,” he said.
Harris has several potential vice presidential candidates to choose from, according to a number of reports. These include Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), as well as Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
Stacey Abrams, known for her activism on voting rights, and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) are on the list as well. Other potential picks are former Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN).
Another new survey is good news for former President Donald Trump, just days after Biden dropped his reelection bid and endorsed Harris.
According to the CNN survey, 49 percent of respondents supported Trump, while 46 percent backed Harris. SSRS conducted the poll.
The poll was conducted between July 22-23, a few days after Biden announced he was abandoning his reelection bid. It was conducted among registered voters who had previously participated in CNN surveys in April and June, where Trump was leading Biden by 6 points.
According to Newsmax, the poll found:
- 64% said Republicans have a better chance of winning the presidency in 2024 if Trump is the party’s nominee.
- 50% said their vote is more in support of Harris than against Trump, compared to 37% of Biden’s supporters who said their vote was mainly to express support for the president.
- 74% said their vote is to express support for Trump rather than their opposition to Harris.
- Among Harris supporters younger than 45, 43% say their vote is more in support of her than against Trump, up from 28% of Biden voters in that age group who felt the same way about the president in June.
- Democrats and Democrat-leaning voters are split over whether the next nominee should continue Biden’s policies (53%) or take the country in a new direction (47%).
- 88% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters say Republicans have a better chance to win with Trump at the top of the ticket.
Fox News host Sean Hannity said during a Monday show segment that Harris is most guilty of covering for Biden during their nearly four-year term as his mental health and acuity declined.
The segment featured Dr. Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician and now GOP congressman from Texas, who knew Biden well while serving as then-President Barack Obama’s personal doctor, as well as longtime journalist Charlie Hurt, the latter of whom blamed Harris directly for hiding Biden’s condition from the country for years.