Clooney backs Harris for president after pushing for Biden exit

Los Angeles: Actor George Clooney, a key Democratic fundraiser who made a public call for President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday as the party's nominee for the November presidential election.

Biden ended his campaign on Sunday following pressure from Democrats in Congress and top donors such as Clooney who were disturbed by the president's disastrous debate performance in June.

Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee on Monday when she secured a majority of delegates to the party convention in August. She will face Republican Donald Trump in the US election in November.

In a statement, Clooney said Biden had "shown what true leadership is. He’s saving democracy once again.

"We're all so excited to do whatever we can to support Vice President Harris in her historic quest," Clooney added.

The actor's endorsement added to support from across Hollywood, long described as an "ATM for Democrats." A June fundraiser hosted by Clooney and Julia Roberts raised more than $30 million in what the Biden campaign said was the largest Democratic fundraiser in history.

Barbra Streisand, Jamie Lee Curtis and Viola Davis are also among Hollywood luminaries who have backed Harris.