Michelle Obama, the former United States first lady voted the world's most admired woman in 2019, is set to lend her star power to putative Democratic Party presidential candidate Joe Biden next week when she formally endorses him in a series of email fundraisers and online videos.
An anti-poverty fighter and a champion of healthy eating among kids, she will join her husband, Barack, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in their endorsements of Biden. Former President Obama endorsed Biden Tuesday while Warren, who ran against Biden as the party's presidential nominee, did so Wednesday.
With the party "royalty" now rallying behind Biden, the stage is set for Democrats to declare the former vice president their presidential candidate during the Democratic National Congress (DNC) Convention in August. The U.S. presidential election is set for November 3.
The author of a best-selling autobiography and a pop culture icon, Michelle Obama remains a role model for women everywhere. She fought for education, nutrition, exercise, and healthy eating and fought against poverty when she was the first lady. She was a fashion icon noted for her support of American designers.
She's expected to lend her name to an email fundraiser. She'll also allow her image to be used in a Biden direct mail campaign. Obama will also film a short online video supporting Biden, whom she describes as a close friend, which will be on the lighter side compared to the video where her husband endorsed Biden.
Michelle will likely work the phones in Biden fundraisers, encouraging her celebrity friends and the wealthy that might have supported other Democratic Party candidates in the primary to rally behind Biden and defeat Trump in November.
On Wednesday, Warren tweeted her endorsement of Biden, saying in a video message she's "proud to endorse Joe Biden as president of the United States."
"Empathy matters. And, in this moment of crisis, it's more important than ever that the next president restores Americans' faith in good, effective government. Joe Biden has spent nearly his entire life in public service. He knows that a government-run with integrity, competence, and heart will save lives and save livelihoods. And we can't afford to let Donald Trump continue to endanger the lives and livelihoods of every American. That's why I'm proud to endorse Joe Biden as president of the United States," tweeted Warren.
She later re-emphasized her support, saying in this moment of crisis, it's more important than ever the next president restores Americans' faith in good, effective government, "and I've seen Joe Biden help our nation rebuild. Today, I'm proud to endorse @JoeBiden as President of the United States."
Barack Obama endorsed his former running mate Tuesday in a 12 tminute-long video that also repeatedly condemned Trump without mentioning his name even once.
Barack Obama offered his formal endorsement of Biden Tuesday, where he called on Democrat progressives and moderates to rally behind Biden and form a unified front to defeat Trump. He also praised Biden's character and resilience, heralding him as the right kind of candidate to lead the country through a crisis like the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic.
Obama gave his full-throated endorsement of Biden during the video aired Tuesday, which also marks the very public return of Obama to the messy U.S. political arena. It came only a day after Biden's last presidential rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, endorsed Biden and said he'd do all he can to see Biden win the White House.
Obama called Biden a "friend" and described his decision to pick Biden as his vice president as "one of the best decisions I ever made."
"He became a close friend," said Obama. "And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a President right now."
Obama said Trump and Republicans in the Senate are solely interested in power, not making progress for Americans.
"If there's one thing we've learned as a country from moments of great crisis, it's that the spirit of looking out for one another can't be restricted to our homes, or our workplaces, or our neighborhoods, or our houses of worship," he said. "It also has to be reflected in our national government."
