Washington (CNN) Former first lady Michelle Obama on Saturday avoided wading into the race for the Democratic Party's 2020 presidential endorsement, saying that she and former President Barack Obama would support "whoever wins the primary"

Michelle Obama told CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King before an audience gathered at the Essence Festival in New Orleans that "our primary focus is letting the primary process play out because it's very early."

"I mean that's one of the things that we learned in the campaign. It is early," she said in the wide-ranging interview. "It's like trying to figure out who is going to win the World Series on the first seven games, I mean that's where we are right now. It is so early and things will change."

Michelle Obama added that she and Barack were "watching everyone" and willing to give support to Democratic candidates trying to navigate the crowded democratic primary field.

"The general election is so important that we have to get behind whoever comes out of that primary, so we're watching everyone, we're supporting everyone, we're giving advice to whoever seeks it," she said.