Clinton and Sanders set to appear together in New Hampshire

Republican Donald Trump has been trying to draw Sanders supporters to his campaign.

At one stage Mr Sanders, a firebrand socialist, looked capable of scuppering Mrs Clinton’s White House ambitions.

“Thank you for your endorsement, but more than that, thank you for your lifetime of fighting for injustice”, Clinton told Sanders. He now plans on voting for Donald Trump. “He believes that states should have the right to lower the minimum wage or even abolish the concept of the minimum wage altogether”, Sanders said.

“Bernie’s endorsement becomes Exhibit A in our rigged system”, he added.

The latest national polls show the email controversy is among the reasons Clinton’s lead over Trump has dipped to three points.

Dramer supported Sanders during his presidential campaign. Flanked by banners bearing the slogan “Stronger Together”, it was clear that she was thrilled to put an end to the political rivalry between her and Sanders.

Trump did not wait for the endorsement speech to begin, tweeting yesterday morning: “I am somewhat surprised that Bernie Sanders was not true to himself and his supporters”.

The feisty self-described democratic socialist nevertheless had refused to concede defeat to his more moderate rival, although he had said he would vote for Clinton. “They can stay at home and they can vote for Donald Trump, AND I wouldn’t expect a lot to vote for Trump”. When Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Clinton supporter, told the audience, “We need to elect Hillary”, some Bernie supporters stood and shouted, “No”, which was followed by chants of “Hillary” in the crowd.

Sanders stood side-by-side with Clinton at a rally in New Hampshire, promising to work to help Clinton win and calling her far and away the best candidate.

A large mix of Sanders and Clinton supporters turned out for the Clinton-Sanders kumbaya moment, with a long line snaking around the high school ahead of the event.

Chants of “Bernie” broke out in the gymnasium while opening speakers addressed the crowd, prompting Clinton’s faithful to chant, “unity”. He’s a fan of the proposed Democratic platform, but sees it as a compromise. She has also warned a Trump presidency would push the country in the wrong direction.

Top Democrats, including President Barack Obama and Senator Elizabeth Warren of MA, a favorite of the party’s liberal wing, have already announced their support for Clinton, leaving Sanders at risk of being left behind in the Democratic battle against Trump. Both Clinton and Sanders huddled in Washington last month, and NPR’s Tamara Keith has reported that both camps have maintained continual contact since that meeting.