Obamas add heft to Harris' presidential bid

Democratic Party’s golden couple endorse Vice-President, take swipes at Trump

- Bhagyashree Garekar

The Democratic Party's golden couple propelled the nascent presidential bid of Ms Kamala Harris into orbit by strongly endorsing the US Vice-President at the Democratic convention in the Windy City.

Both former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, who have rock-star status and considerable heft within the Democratic Party, seemed to anoint Ms Harris as the inheritor of their legacy.

"America is ready for a new chapter. America's ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris," said Mr Obama, 63, in his 30-minute speech on Aug 20, the second day of the Democratic National Convention.

In her speech before her husband, Mrs Obama, 60, said: "My girl Kamala Harris is more than ready for this moment. She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency." The crowd, packing Chicago's 20,000-capacity United Centre arena, hung on every word, evoking Mr Obama's own 2008 campaign when he battled incredible odds to become the country's first black president.

In 2024, Vice-President Harris is also seeking to extend the traditional boundaries of American politics, drawing an inevitable comparison with Mr Obama. She hopes to become the first woman president and the first black woman to win the White House.

Ms Harris was not in attendance, however, as the Obamas spoke.

She was instead campaigning about 100km away, in the key swing state of Wisconsin.