Former U.S. President Barack Obama has finally come out to endorse Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee on Tuesday to help his former vice president’s efforts to unite the party and motivate its voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

After staying on the sidelines as a record-high number of Democratic candidates fought hard to take on President Donald Trump, Obama showed his support to Biden in a video message.

Obama said in the video, “Choosing Joe to be my vice president was one of the best decisions I ever made, and he became a close friend. And I believe Joe has all the qualities we need in a president right now.”

Biden’s endorsement by the first black U.S. president came right after Senator Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race on Monday.

The grand support around Biden definitely gives him a much-needed push and attention at a time when the American citizens are largely focusing on the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has drastically changed the game of the presidential race.

Obama has always publicly remained neutral as Biden, who served as vice-president for eight years in the White House, struggled in early 2020 Democratic nominating contests and then emerged victorious in a series of primaries in the month of March.

Obama and his wife Michelle are still two of the most loved figures in the Democratic Party. Trump won in 2016, promising to reverse many of Obama’s policies. Obama’s support to Biden may prove to be a boon for Biden’s campaign at this hour.