Barack Obama says Joe Biden has ‘nailed’ his vice presidential pick with Kamala Harris

Barack Obama has praised his former vice president for picking Kamala Harris as his running mate
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Barack Obama has praised his former vice president’s own choice of running mate saying “Joe Biden nailed this decision”.

Mr Obama shared a statement on Twitter just minutes after Mr Biden named California Senator Kamala Harris as his prospective VP.

“By choosing Senator Kamala Harris as America’s next vice president, he’s underscored his own judgment and character,” Mr Obama wrote.

Donald Trump’s predecessor in the White House called Ms Harris an ”ideal partner to help him (BIden) tackle the very real challenges America faces right now and in the years ahead”.

The choice has sealed Ms Harris’s place in the history books, as she becomes the first black woman to compete on a major party’s presidential ticket.

The 55-year-old first-term senator is also one of the party’s most prominent figures and quickly became a top contender for the number two spot after her own White House campaign ended.

Meanwhile, climate activist and former Vice President Al Gore also praised the choice as a “victory for those who care about combating the climate crisis”.

The 72-year-old tweeted that Ms Harris “has made climate and environmental justice a top priority” in her political career, and he said she would be a “strong advocate in the White House”.

Mr Gore is former vice president to Bill Clinton and a 2000 Democratic presidential nominee.

He once served as a Tennessee senator alongside Mr Biden. and has since worked with him on his climate plans.

Georgia voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams congratulated the Democratic vice presidential candidate after Mr Biden’s announcement.

Ms Abrams tweeted that she spoke “at length” with the 77-year-old over the weekend and again on Tuesday.

The presumptive presidential nominee called several women he considered for the ticket to let them know they were not his final choice.

Ms Abrams praised Mr Biden’s “focus on reaching out to every corner of our country” and pledged to work for “Team #BidenHarris” through November.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Mr Biden’s selection will energise voters ahead of the general election fight against President Donald Trump.

“This is everything that we need to get people to turn out the vote,” Mr Clyburn told MSNBC Tuesday.

Mr Clyburn’s backing helped boost Mr Biden across the South Carolina primary finish line, propelling him into victories in later nominating contests.

And Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti praised his “dear friend” and fellow Californian for her selection as running mate.

Mr Garcetti is one of Mr Biden’s campaign co-chairs and helped him navigate his options for VP.

The mayor noted in a statement that he and Ms Harris “have been friends for many years”, recalling their work together on then-Sen Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008.

Mr Garcetti called Ms Harris a “true ally” for people “who have needed a voice within the corridors of power”.

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