Obama plans to endorse Harris for president soon

Former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris have been in close touch since she announced her presidential candidacy Sunday, having multiple conversations this week as she kicks off her campaign, according to four people familiar with their discussions.

Obama privately has fully supported Harris' candidacy and plans to endorse her soon, these people said.

"He has been in regular contact with her and thinks she's been off to a great start," one of them said.

Obama is one of the only high-profile Democrats in the country who has yet to endorse Harris. While other party leaders have stepped forward to publicly back her, he has so far kept his support private.

The people familiar with the discussions didn't know the precise timing of his endorsement. One of them said Obama didn't want it to overshadow President Joe Biden's moment, particularly his Oval Office address to the nation Wednesday night.

Another person familiar with the discussions said Obama and Harris, who is seeking to maintain the momentum her campaign has enjoyed among Democrats since she entered the race, wanted his endorsement to stand as its own moment.

Aides to Obama and Harris also have discussed arranging for the two of them to appear together on the campaign trail, though no date has been set, three of the people familiar with the discussions said.

Michelle Obama also supports Harris' candidacy, two people familiar with the matter said.

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"President Obama looks forward to helping Democrats