JUST IN: Barack Obama Endorses Kamala Harris As Democratic Nominee

Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential candidate.

A video published early Friday showed the couple calling Harris to offer their endorsement with Obama opening by calling out her name.

Michelle Obama then began: “I can’t have this phone call without saying to my girl Kamala: I am proud of you. This is going to be historic.”

The former president 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.”

Harris replied: “Oh my goodness. Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me, I am looking forward to doing this with the two of you, Doug and I both. And getting out there, being on the road.”

She continued: “But most of all, I just wanna tell you that the words you have spoken and the friendship that you have given over all these years mean more than I can express. So thank you both! It means so much. And, and we’re gonna have some fun with this too, aren’t we?”

In a post to X, Obama also wrote: “Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support. At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in November. We hope you’ll join us.”

Harris shared the video on her own X account, declaring: “Let’s get to work.”

The endorsement comes days after President Joe Biden’s decision to step down and giving his own backing to Harris to lead the Democratic campaign. Harris has already secured widespread support from key Democratic figures, but Obama’s endorsement has been eagerly anticipated.

Sources close to Obama indicated to NBC News on Thursday that the delay in his endorsement came because the former president did not want to overshadow Biden’s Oval Office address about his stepping down which was broadcast on Wednesday.

Senior advisor Eric Schultz told NBC News that Obama “looked forward to helping Democrats up and down the ballot make the case to voters this fall.”

He added: “Our strategy will be based on driving impact, especially where and when his voice can move the needle.”

Obama’s backing is expected to further solidify party unity and bolster Harris’s campaign as she navigates the final 100 days until Election Day.