The former president had initially withheld his endorsement following Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the campaign, favoring an open nominating contest at next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago. However, after Harris secured endorsements from Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, various state governors, senior Democrats in Congress, and Biden himself, Obama added his voice in a significant boost for the vice-president. The endorsement was revealed in a video released by Harris’s campaign on Friday, showing a phone call between Harris and the Obamas.