Barack Obama sparked a buzz when he turned and pointed at Gavin Newsom at the star-studded funeral for Democratic hero the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Friday.
The former president, standing between Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, locked eyes with the California governor in a moment that set tongues wagging.
The Democratic powerbrokers packed into Chicago‘s House of Hope church needed little encouragement to speculate about Newsom’s 2028 ambitions.
Seated a few rows to Obama’s right was fellow 2028 hopeful Kamala Harris, who has recently been flirting with another run at the White House.
The eventual nominee will be hoping for a heavyweight endorsement from Obama, whose reluctance to back Harris until the eleventh hour proved prescient in her defeat to Donald Trump.
Obama, who attended without his wife Michelle, was seen sharing laughs in the front row with former presidents Biden and Clinton, joined by their wives Jill and former secretary of state Hillary.
Jackson, remembered as a ‘living bridge’ between the era of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and modern civil rights movements, died on February 17 aged 84 after a battle with Parkinson’s and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke at the service which was also attended by Hollywood producer Tyler Perry, philosopher Cornel West and former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich.
Former President Barack Obama gestures to Gavin Newsom at the funeral for Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope in Chicago, Friday
The eventual nominee will be hoping from heavyweight endorsements from the likes of Obama, whose reluctance to endorse Harris until the eleventh hour proved prescient in her defeat to Donald Trump
Former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham and former first lady Dr. Jill Biden attend a celebration of life service for civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. at the House of Hope arena on March 6
Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker attends a memorial service to celebrate the life of the civil rights leader, Reverend Jesse Jackson, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 6
Tyler Perry attends the Public Homegoing Service for Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope in Chicago, Friday
Cornel West attends a memorial service to celebrate the life of the civil rights leader, Reverend Jesse Jackson, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 6
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich attends a celebration of life service for civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. at the House of Hope arena on March 6
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks during the Public Homegoing Service for the Rev. Jesse Jackson at the House of Hope in Chicago, Friday
Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker speaks during a memorial service to celebrate the life of the civil rights leader, Reverend Jesse Jackson, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., March 6