July 26 (Reuters) - Former President Barack Obama and

his wife Michelle endorsed Kamala Harris' bid for president on

Friday in a roughly one-minute long video that captured a

private phone call between the couple and the current vice

president.

"We called to say Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to

endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this

election and into the Oval Office," Obama told Harris.

"I am proud of you. This is going to be historic," the

former first lady told Harris.

Talking into a cell phone and cracking a few smiles, Harris

expressed her gratitude for the endorsement and their long

friendship.

"Thank you both. It means so much. And we're gonna have some

fun with this too," Harris said.

The campaign said the video was the actual call, not a

reenactment.

Harris's surprise bid against Republican rival Donald Trump

continues to gain steam from supporters, donors and politicians

less than a week after President Joe Biden bowed out of the race

amid slumping poll numbers.

Obama, the first U.S Black president, remains one of the

most popular figures in the Democratic party even after more

than a decade has passed since he was last elected.

Obama has lent his support to Biden during big-money

fundraisers, which were among some of the biggest blockbuster

events of his campaign.

The endorsement could help activate and sustain energy and

fundraising for Harris' campaign and it signals he is likely to

get on the campaign trail for Harris once she is officially the

presumptive nominee.

Obama initially withheld his endorsement even as Biden, his

former vice president, anointed her as his heir apparent. Obama

reportedly did not want to put his thumb on the scale as the

party worked through the process of determining its nominee.