Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor, associate publisher

CLEVELAND, Ohio-The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and former President Barack Obama have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, increasing her chances of beating former President Donald Trump and winning the White House in November as the contentious race for president of the United States continues.

The presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden's exit on Sunday from the race, Harris, 59 and also a former California state attorney general and U.S. senator, has become America's Democratic darling overnight and said Thursday that she appreciates Obama's coveted endorsement and that of former first lady Michelle O'bama, a power couple.

"We called to say Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," Obama tells Harris over the phone per a video of the conversation posted online. And Michelle Obama tells Harris, "I am proud of you. This is going to be historic."

The endorsement from the Obama's, who called the upcoming November 5 presidential election historic,  comes a day after Harris secured the endorsement from the prominent AFT.

Addressing members of the AFT, the second largest teacher's union in America, at a rally on Thursday, Harris said she has always supported teachers unions and that she is a byproduct of public education.

She told rally participants that "I am a proud graduate of public education." And she urged unity among Democrats against Trump, saying Trump, the nominee for the Republican Party, and his allies are trying to take the country backwards.

"We are fighting for the future," Harris said after praising the work of the Biden-Harris administration and the president himself.

Whether the national excitement behind Harris stepping up to replace President Biden in the run for president will continue, especially among Democrats, both Black and White alike,  remains to be seen with the presidential election nearly three months away.

WHAT HAPPEN TO BIDEN RUNNING FOR REELECTION?

Amid health concerns, low poll numbers, and pressure from key congressional Democrats, Biden, 81, withdrew on Sunday as the presumptive nominee for president for the Democratic Party and urged Democrats to support Vice President Harris in his place, changing the political landscape as the Nov. 5, 2024 presidential election nears. In doing so he handed former President Donald Trump a vibrant and credential Black woman to compete against for the country's top executive job.

The nominee for the Republican Party as of Thursday night, Trump,78, lost reelection to Biden, 81, in 2020 and hopes to wiggle his way back into the White House in November with the support of voters and Republican operatives. He immediately began slinging rhetoric and dogging Harris at campaign rallies, much like he did Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race.

If she wins in November Harris will become the nation's first Black and first female president.

The Democratic National Convention is set for Aug.19-22 in Chicago, Illinois, and a host of celebrities are expected to participate and join Democrats in saluting and promoting Harris as America's best choice for president.

Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most read Black digital newspaper and Black blog in Ohio and in the Midwest. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. We interviewed former president Barack Obama one-on-one when he was campaigning for president. As to the Obama interview. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT CLEVELAND URBAN NEWs.COM