Foreign Media like NYT "Supporting Behind the Scenes... Will Announce Endorsement Soon"
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the majority of delegates ('magic number') needed to become the Democratic nominee for the upcoming November presidential election, and former President Barack Obama, who had remained silent until now, is reportedly about to declare his support, according to U.S. media.
The New York Times (NYT) cited multiple sources familiar with the matter on the 25th (local time), reporting that former President Obama has been regularly communicating with Vice President Harris, sharing his experiences following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the candidacy.
It was also reported that former President Obama has been working behind the scenes to assist Harris's presidential campaign. However, the exact timing of his endorsement has not been disclosed. Sources explained that "the reason former President Obama has not immediately declared support for Vice President Harris is because he believes it is important for delegates to go through the legitimate process of selecting a new candidate."
Earlier, Vice President Harris quickly solidified her position as the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden withdrew and nominated her as his successor. However, unlike other senior Democrats who publicly endorsed Harris soon after Biden announced his decision not to seek re-election, former President Obama has yet to express his support.
Shortly after President Biden named Vice President Harris as his successor, prominent Democratic figures such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have all expressed their support.
However, in a statement on the 21st, former President Obama praised and comforted President Biden for stepping down from the candidacy but did not mention Vice President Harris by name. If former President Obama endorses Vice President Harris, it will fill the last gap in solidifying her position as the Democratic nominee.
Another source said that the delay in endorsement was due to concerns that former President Obama might appear to be overseeing Vice President Harris. There was also talk that he postponed his endorsement out of respect for his friend and former running mate President Biden's decision to withdraw from the race.
In this regard, the NYT pointed out that this is not the first time former President Obama has delayed endorsing a presidential candidate. During the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, he took a similar stance when Senator Bernie Sanders withdrew and endorsed President Biden.
The relationship between former President Obama and Vice President Harris goes back a long way. Vice President Harris supported former President Obama's first presidential campaign in 2008 from an early stage and gave a speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention when he sought re-election. Former President Obama helped her campaign when she ran for Attorney General of California and supported her when she ran for the Senate in 2016.
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