President Obama endorses Hillary Clinton for President

President Barack Obama has endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, signaling he will fight to ensure that she succeeds him in the White House.

Afterward, Sanders thanked Obama and Vice President Biden for their impartiality during the primary process, but he did not concede or endorse Clinton.

“What motivates Sanders and Clinton are the issues, that’s what matters”, he said during a Washington news conference this week. Jeff Merkley of OR, the one Senate Democrat to endorse Sanders, said Clinton was the nominee and offered his congratulations.

“I am fired up, and I can not wait to get out there to campaign for Hillary”, he said. I think his campaign was good for the Democratic Party, good for our country.

As he walked through the halls he knows so well, Sanders ignored a reporter’s question about the president’s endorsement of Clinton.

“I know how hard this job can be”, he said.

“When I hear voices in either party boast of their refusal to compromise as an accomplishment in and of itself, I’m not impressed”, Obama said.

Obama and Clinton will make their first joint appearance together in Wisconsin next week.

Trump responded to Obama’s endorsement by tweeting: “Obama just endorsed Crooked Hillary”.

The task of persuading Sanders’ supporters to fall in line falls largely to Obama, still one of the Democratic Party’s most popular figures.

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, a superdelegate who has campaigned for Clinton, meanwhile, said he believes Sanders and Clinton’s backers will unify over their common issues.

After the meeting with Sanders, Obama officially endorsed Clinton’s bid for the White House, saying she is the most qualified for the job. She declared victory Tuesday evening, after winning primary contests in four states and earning a majority of pledged delegates in the race.

Obama’s endorsement and Sanders’ visit were the public culmination of that work. Sanders came prepared with his statement.

Obama greeted Sanders and his wife, Jane, in the residence and then strolled with the senator, smiling and laughing warmly, past the Rose Garden to the Oval Office, as cameras recorded the moment.

Leaders on Capitol Hill underscored Obama’s message.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the president has talked to Sanders three times in the past week, and “Sen”. Sanders emerged from the meeting subdued and indicated he had gotten the message.

The careful choreography was part of the Democrats’ attempt to show some respect to Sanders, even as they steered the long-time senator toward the campaign off-ramp.

The party’s delicate handling of the Vermont senator reflected Sanders supporters’ deep distrust of the Democratic establishment and its meddling in the primary. After conceding the race, Clinton campaigned for Obama in the general election. Clinton is counting on Sanders’ supporters to help her defeat Trump. Obama has said he’s “fired up” and ready to get started.