Former President Barack Obama did not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would end his reelection campaign. In a statement, Obama praised Biden’s “remarkable career in public service” and acknowledged the difficulty of Biden’s decision to step aside.
“Joe understands better than anyone the stakes in this election,” Obama said. “For him to decide to pass the torch is surely one of the toughest decisions he’s faced.”
Obama expressed confidence in the Democratic Party’s ability to select an outstanding nominee, stating, “We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead.” He also highlighted the importance of carrying forward Biden’s vision of a “generous, prosperous, and united America.”
Obama’s decision to not endorse Harris comes after Biden endorsed Harris shortly after he announced that he was ending his campaign.
Biden had previously endorsed Harris as his successor, calling it “the best decision” of his presidency and urging Democrats to unite for the upcoming election.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President,” Biden said. “And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
