After securing the Democratic presidential nomination, Kamala Harris received advice from former President Barack Obama, urging her to tap into the campaign talent pool that is available to her. Following this advice, several high-profile alumni from Obama’s 2008 and 2012 election efforts joined Harris’ campaign, cementing the former president’s imprint on her political operation. This move was seen as a significant endorsement, given the influence Obama still wields within the Democratic Party.
Obama’s relationship with Harris dates back two decades, with both rising in local politics and eventually representing historical firsts – he as the first Black US President, and she as the first woman and first Black and South Asian person to serve as Vice President. Harris was an early supporter of Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, attending his campaign launch and knocking on doors for him ahead of the Iowa caucus.
The two have remained close since the 2020 election, with Obama phoning Harris to apologize for comments he made at a fundraiser in 2013, where he referred to her as “by far the best-looking attorney general in the country.” Obama has also kept in regular touch with Harris since the election, with aides saying he has offered her unsolicited advice, which she has welcomed, even if she doesn’t always take it.
Joe Biden (Calvin Gates/SHutterstock)
Obama’s influence on Harris’ campaign is evident, with echoes of his 2008 campaign themes of hope and change seen in her own campaign. The Harris team has drawn parallels between the excitement surrounding Obama in 2008 and the energy around Harris in 2020. Michelle Obama, who is widely popular within the party, is set to speak at the Democratic National Convention, adding to the nostalgia surrounding the couple’s presidency.
Meanwhile, Obama’s relationship with his former Vice President, Joe Biden, has become more complicated. Obama has been a driving force behind the party revolt that led Biden to step aside from the presidential race, according to some within the party. Biden has confirmed that he has been upset with those who wanted him to drop out of the race and is still confident in his decision to do so. Despite this, Obama and Biden will work together to ensure Trump’s defeat in November.
The complicated relationship between Obama and Biden is a result of multiple ups and downs over the years. Some in Biden’s orbit believe Obama put his thumb on the scale for Hillary Clinton to be the 2016 presidential nominee, rather than Biden, who was considering a run at the time. Obama gave a eulogy for Beau Biden, Joe’s son, who passed away in 2015. As one Democrat with ties to both men put it, “You can love and have affection for someone, and it can still be complicated.”
