Obama Endorses Kamala Harris
Barack Obama endorsed current Vice Pres. Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nominee on Friday, with the former US president and his wife, Michelle Obama, telling her they would 'do everything' to help her win....
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Facts
- Barack Obama endorsed current Vice Pres. Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nominee on Friday, with the former US president and his wife, Michelle Obama, telling her they would 'do everything' to help her win.[1]
- The Obamas praised Harris for what they described as her career achievements, including her time in California as a prosecutor, attorney general, and US senator, as well as her time as Pres. Joe Biden's vice president.[2]
- Obama waited longer than other Democrats to endorse Harris, with reports indicating the delay was to allow time for Biden's public address on Wednesday and for more campaign donations to pour in, which totaled over $100M from Sunday to Monday.[3]
- Obama himself is a skilled fundraiser, having previously raised over $25M for the Biden-Harris campaign at a Los Angeles event in March and another $28M during a separate event in June.[4]
- Obama was initially believed to support an open nomination convention to select the party's nominee, with his endorsement following those of fellow high-profile Democrats such as Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi.[5]
- In a one-on-one matchup, polls currently place Harris 1.9% behind Republican nominee Donald Trump, with the gap widening to 2.8% when Green Party and independent candidates are included.[6]
Sources: [1]NBC, [2]Wsj, [3]New York Post, [4]NPR Online News, [5]Guardian and [6]Daily Caller.
Narratives
- Democratic narrative, as provided by MSNBC. Between their phone call and social media posts, it's clear that the Obamas not only support Harris but believe she will win this election. The delayed endorsement was simply a strategic move to allow the democratic process to unfold and give Biden the opportunity, as the nation's leader, to offer his endorsement first. Regardless, the Obamas have now backed the vice president, and that's all that matters.
- Republican narrative, as provided by PJ Media. Obama only endorsed Harris after the gigantic Democratic Party machine propped her up, leaving him with no other choice. What his delayed endorsement actually shows is that he instinctually knows she can't win. While Obama will now have to play along, deep down he knows her failed record on defunding the police, opening the southern border, and promoting the Green New Deal are policies Americans oppose.
