An endorsement that could no longer be waited for: Barack and Michelle Obama officially support Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for the next US presidential elections.

CNN had already announced the imminence of the moment, now it's official.

Kamala Harris herself posted on X the images of the phone call - appropriately amplified - with which the former president and former first lady gave their support to her candidacy for the White House. A 55-second clip shared by Harris' staff shows the vice president walking backstage at an event, walking toward her motorcade and taking the phone call on speakerphone. “Oh, hello, you're both together! Oh, it's good to hear from you both,” Harris says. «I can't make this phone call without telling my girlfriend Kamala: I'm proud of you», Michelle replies: «This will be a historic event».

The former president intervenes immediately afterwards: "We called to tell you 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." Harris thanks them for their friendship and adds, “We're going to have some fun.”

Despite his absence among the big Democrats who immediately supported Harris after Biden's withdrawal, according to insiders Obama would have played a significant role behind the scenes. Yet he apparently decided to stay out of the way to avoid the perception that he was orchestrating a sort of "coronation", and to give Biden time to metabolize an evidently painful decision. In the meantime, however, he would have offered Harris his support as a consultant and involved former collaborators who he believes could be of help to Harris' campaign. An approach similar to the one Obama had in 2020, when Biden's collaborators asked him to express an early endorsement in the Democratic primaries, while Bernie Sanders was still in the race. On that occasion, however, Obama said he wanted to wait until the end of the primaries: "I don't want to influence the balance."

«Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend Kamala Harris – she wrote on X Obama – We told her that we think she will be a fantastic president of the United States and that she has our full support. At this critical time for our country, we will do everything we can to make sure we win in November. We hope you will join us."

(Unioneonline/D)

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