Quick Hit:

Barack and Michelle Obama have finally endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president after days of silence on the subject. They expressed their pride and commitment to helping her campaign but cautioned that Democrats face an uphill battle, as Harris trails behind Donald Trump in recent polling.

Key Details:

• Barack Obama praised Kamala Harris for her “vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands.”
• Obama’s endorsement follows President Joe Biden’s announcement to drop out of the 2024 race.
• Despite the endorsement, Barack Obama warned that Democrats are "underdogs" in the race, reflecting current polling that shows Harris trailing Trump.

Diving Deeper:

Barack and Michelle Obama have officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, ending days of speculation and silence on the matter. In a campaign video released early Friday, the former first couple expressed their pride and commitment to helping Harris achieve victory.

The 55-second video features Harris taking a call from the Obamas while backstage at a campaign event. Barack Obama begins the call with, "Kamala!" followed by Michelle joining in. The video transitions to a title card reading "The Obamas Call Kamala" before showing Harris standing in front of a black SUV, holding the phone to her ear with the speakerphone on.

"I can't have this phone call without saying to my girl Kamala: I am proud of you," Michelle Obama says. "This is going to be historic." Barack Obama follows up, saying, "We called to say, Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office."

Despite the warm endorsement, Barack Obama issued a stark warning about the Democrats' challenging road ahead. "We're gonna be underdogs, you know, and you are gonna have to continue, as you said, to earn, not just the nomination but earn the trust of folks all across this country," he said. The former president indicated that he and Michelle would actively campaign for Harris, stating, "Bottom line is we are ready to get to work."

The endorsement comes after insiders suggested that Obama had been withholding his endorsement over a lack of confidence in the vice president, and frustration towards Biden for endorsing Harris so quickly after withdrawing from the race himself.