Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris

Former President Barack Obama and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, have endorsed Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

A video shared on social media Friday morning shows Harris taking a call from Obama backstage at a campaign event. It’s unclear when the call took place — Obama noted in his post that it happened “earlier this week.”

“We called to say that Michelle and I couldn’t be more proud to support you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama told Harris.

“I can’t have this phone call without telling my girlfriend, Kamala, I’m proud of you,” Michelle Obama said. “This is going to be historic.”

Obama has been in regular contact with Harris since she officially announced her presidential campaign on Sunday, giving her advice on building and executing a successful campaign against former President Donald Trump, NBC News reported. Harris was an early supporter of Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. in North Carolina. Obama campaigned for Harris when she ran for attorney general in California.

Obama’s endorsement caps a wave of Democratic support for Harris’ campaign following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the race. Nearly every elected Democrat in Congress has endorsed her campaign, including Pennsylvania Sens. John Casey and John Fetterman. Among the few elected Democrats who have not specifically endorsed Harris is New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, who was convicted of bribery and will resign on Aug. 20.

In Philadelphia, Harris won the endorsement of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, who said the vice president “is ready to rise to the occasion.” Parker said the Biden administration has been a key ally for Philadelphia, citing the more than $600 million in federal grants the city has received in the seven months she has been mayor.

So far, no Democrats have challenged Harris, and she has already won enough delegate support to comfortably secure the party’s presidential nomination.

Democrats will officially choose their candidate in a virtual vote ahead of their convention in Chicago next month, likely as early as Aug. 1. She will have to choose her vice presidential candidate by Aug. 7, the deadline for voting in Ohio, according to rules set by the Democratic National Committee. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to begin in Chicago on Aug. 19.