Obama Endorses Kamala Harris for President
Former President Barack Obama endorsed Kamala Harris for her presidential bid on Friday, providing a significant boost to her campaign against Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.
“Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend Kamala Harris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support,” Obama announced on social media platform X. “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.”
Obama was one of the last major Democratic figures to endorse Harris, who had already received President Joe Biden’s backing on Sunday. Biden’s endorsement solidified her position on the Democratic ballot.
Harris’ campaign has been gaining momentum since she announced her candidacy. The 59-year-old vice president decided to run after weeks of controversy surrounding Biden, whose poor debate performance against Trump raised concerns about his mental acuity and low polling numbers.
As the first woman vice president, Harris is aiming to make history again in November. She criticized Trump and his “extremist” Republicans during a speech to teachers on Thursday. Trump’s campaign seemed unprepared for Harris’ surge, with Trump refusing to schedule a debate with her, claiming it would be “inappropriate” until she was officially named the Democratic nominee.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung stated, “Democrats very well could still change their minds.”
Harris, a former top prosecutor in California, responded to Trump on X, saying: “What happened to ‘any time, any place?’” She had previously expressed readiness for a September 10 debate: “I’m ready. So let’s go.”
Barack and Michelle Obama have just given their endorsement to Kamala Harris. 🌟#Blinkscoop
Trends: Lionel Messi|#Paris2024|Bellingham pic.twitter.com/xyVbecxqzz— Blinkscoop Official (@Blinkscoop1) July 26, 2024
Union Endorsement
The American Federation of Teachers was the first union to endorse Harris, cheering her on at their convention in Houston. Harris warned of a “full-on attack” by Trump’s Republicans on “hard-won, hard-fought freedoms.”
“While you teach students about democracy and representative government, extremists attack the sacred freedom to vote. While you try to create safe and welcoming places where our children can learn, extremists attack our freedom to live safe from gun violence,” she said.
Harris’ speech came in the wake of extreme rhetoric from Trump, who called her a “radical left lunatic” and falsely accused her of supporting the “execution” of newborn babies.
At 78, Trump is the oldest presidential nominee in US history and has promised not to provide federal funds to schools with vaccine mandates. Every public school in America currently has such mandates.
