Who are Kamala Harris’ in-laws, the second gentleman’s poetry-peddling parents Mike and Barb Emhoff? And why is everyone talking about their video performance for the vice-president’s birthday?

All eyes are on US presidential hopefuls Kamala Harris and Donald Trump as they vie for the White House on November 5. Harris recently celebrated a milestone when she turned 60 on October 20. The Democratic presidential candidate marked her birthday by campaigning in Georgia – and had Stevie Wonder singing Happy Birthday to her to mark the occasion.

But it was Harris’ in-laws and their cringeworthy birthday message that ended up trending on social media. Mike and Barb Emhoff, parents of second gentleman Doug, wrote a poem for the vice-president and recorded themselves reciting it. The outcome was a hilariously awkward viral video tribute to Harris from her relatives.

The couple recorded the video of themselves reading the poem, with a picture of their daughter-in-law in the background. The poem begins: “Sixty stars for Kamala. Sixty years of laughter. Sixty years of grace. A guiding light with a smiling face.”

It’s not the first time the Emhoffs have written national-attention-grabbing verse. Their son turned 60 on October 13, and Doug posted a video of his parents reciting their poem, A Sonnet 60, on Instagram. “Sixty years, how fast they flew. From little boy, to all you do. From childhood days of endless cheer, to milestones now, your grandest year,” reads the first part of the poem.