{"id":327781,"date":"2024-07-26T11:13:19","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T11:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gbcghanaonline.com\/?p=327781"},"modified":"2024-07-26T11:13:22","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T11:13:22","slug":"obamas-endorse-kamala-harris-for-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gbcghanaonline.com\/news\/obamas-endorse-kamala-harris-for-president\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Obamas endorse Kamala Harris for president"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Barack Obama has endorsed Vice-President Kamala Harris<\/a> to be the Democratic presidential nominee, ending days of speculation over whether he would support her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Former President Obama and ex-First Lady Michelle Obama said in a joint statement that they believe Ms Harris has the “vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mr Obama was reportedly among more than 100 prominent Democrats Ms Harris spoke to after President Joe Biden announced last Sunday he was dropping out of the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a statement at the time, Mr Obama praised Mr Biden’s exit, but stopped short of endorsing Ms Harris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US vice-president has already secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, setting her on course to become the official nominee at the party convention in August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Obamas said in Friday’s statement that they could not be “more thrilled to endorse” Ms Harris. They vowed to do “everything we can” to elect her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “We agree with President Biden,” said the couple’s statement, “choosing Kamala was one of the best decisions he\u2019s made. She has the resume to prove it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n They cited her record as California\u2019s attorney general, a US senator and then vice-president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “But Kamala has more than a resume,” the statement continued. “She has the vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “At a time when the stakes have never been higher, she gives us all reason to hope.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement was accompanied by a video of Ms Harris taking a phone call from the Obamas in which they pledge their support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Oh my goodness,” says the vice-president in the clip. “Michelle, Barack, this means so much to me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ms Harris\u00a0has also had “frank and constructive” talks with Israeli Prime Minister\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Benjamin Netanyahu, and told him it was time for the Israel-Gaza war to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Israel launched a campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to the attack on southern Israel last October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More than 39,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory\u2019s Hamas-run health ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kamala Harris said she made clear her “serious concerns” about casualties in Gaza, telling Mr Netanyahu how Israel defended itself mattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ms Harris also stressed the need for a path to a two-state solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Israeli prime minister also met President Biden while on a trip to the White House, and will meet Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ms Harris has held a number of campaign events across the US in the days since Mr Biden withdrew from the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Thursday, she addressed the American Federation of Teachers union in Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the event was billed as part of her vice-presidential duties, it had the air of a campaign rally, with loud applause and cheers from the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Echoing language used in campaign events earlier in the week, Ms Harris took aim at what she termed “extremist” Republicans and “failed” policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe want to ban assault weapons, and they want to ban books,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump continued to pivot to assail his new rival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Lyin’ Kamala Harris is a radical left Marxist, and worse!” he said in a partially all-capital-letters post on his social media platform Truth Social.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump also refused to commit to a televised debate with Ms Harris until she is officially confirmed as the party’s nominee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested Democrats were “still holding out for someone ‘better'”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SOURCE: BBC NEWS<\/p>\n\n\n\n