Washington: Barbara Bush, the daughter of former Republican US President George W. Bush, has endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the closely contested White House race and campaigned for her over the weekend, she told People magazine.
Bush, 42, spent part of the weekend canvassing for the vice president’s campaign in Pennsylvania, a key swing state that will play a critical role in the November election between Harris and Republican Donald Trump.
“It was inspiring to join friends and meet voters with the Harris-Walz campaign in Pennsylvania this weekend,” she said. “I’m hopeful they’ll move our country forward and protect women’s rights.”
While Bush has identified as an independent, her family is well-known for its Republican ties; her late grandfather, George H.W. Bush, also served as president.
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A small but vocal group of prominent Republicans, disenchanted by Trump’s extreme rhetoric on issues like abortion, migration, and democracy, has chosen to endorse Harris.
George W. Bush, who served as president from 2001 to 2009, has yet to endorse a candidate for the 2024 election and has largely refrained from discussing politics during his post-presidency.
However, Harris has already gained the backing of his vice president, Dick Cheney, and his daughter, former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who has actively campaigned alongside Harris.
Barbara Bush, whose fraternal twin sister Jenna works for NBC, has been vocal about her views on abortion and has previously rallied for Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading reproductive health organization and advocacy group.
Trump has claimed that his appointments to the Supreme Court contributed to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, resulting in the removal of federal protections for abortion access.
Since that 2022 court ruling, at least 20 U.S. states have enacted full or partial restrictions on abortion, making it a central issue in this election.
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