What Obama really thinks of Harris (and why it might explain his silence)

# What Barack Obama Really Thinks of Kamala Harris (and Why His Silence Might Hold a Clue)

As the US vice-president, Kamala Harris could use a helping hand from her old friend, former president Barack Obama. So, why has he been silent? Alex Hannaford explores the personal and political relationship between these two trailblazers.

## The Curious Silence

It's July 2024, and with Joe Biden out of the race, Kamala Harris finds herself with a raft of endorsements from prominent Democrats for her own presidential bid. However, one name is conspicuously absent: Barack Obama. This omission has sparked headlines and speculation about a possible rift.

Back in 2020, Obama and Harris had a jovial video chat, posted on social media, where they discussed music, workout routines, and Biden's love for ice cream and aviator sunglasses. Harris even received a congratulatory tweet from Michelle Obama after the 2020 election victory, calling her a "friend."

So, why hasn't Obama endorsed Harris now? Some political observers chalk it up to strategy and his role as an elder statesman who wants to remain impartial in case of a contested nomination process. Others suggest he wants to let the party's elected leaders take the reins.

## A Friendship Forged in Politics

Barack Obama and Kamala Harris have much in common. Both are trailblazers who have broken racial and gender barriers. Harris, the first female, Black, and Asian-American vice-president, and Obama, the first Black president, first met when he ran for the US Senate in 2004. Harris was an early supporter of Obama's presidential bid, even when Clinton was the favorite.

They have a 20-year friendship, with Obama once calling her the "best-looking attorney general in the country," a comment for which he later apologized. In 2016, Obama appeared in a TV ad for Harris's senate campaign, calling her a "fearless fighter." Michelle Obama also tweeted a birthday message to Harris in 2021, calling her a "thoughtful, compassionate, and relentless leader."

## A United Front?

Despite their long-standing connection, there is little public interaction between the Obamas and the Harris-Emhoffs outside of work. However, political consultant David Logan believes there is no malice, and that Obama, who encouraged Biden to step down, would have discussed his preferences with Biden beforehand.

Any speculation about Obama holding out for a potential Michelle Obama candidacy is unfounded, according to Capitol Hill insiders. Instead, it is Harris who is poised to make history as America's first female president. With her many "firsts," Harris hopes to bring new hope to a divided country and make her "old friend" Obama proud.

This rewritten version maintains the core information and structure of the original text while providing a more concise and engaging narrative.