"I don't think there's ever been someone qualified to hold this office." These are just a few words that President Barack Obama has said in a video posted on Hillary Clinton's Facebook page on Thursday, officially endorsing her as "the most qualified candidate" to seek the White House and pleading for Democrats to come together to elect her.
Mr. Obama congratulated her on "making history" and said he had personally witnessed her qualifications for the Oval Office. "I have seen her judgment, I've seen her toughness, I've seen her commitments to our values close up," the president complimented.
White House officials had been discussing an endorsement with Mrs. Clinton's camp for days, but kept the timing of the announcement confidential as a gesture of respect for Senator Bernie Sanders and his supporters.
On Sunday, Mr. Obama and Mr. Sanders already spoke on phone, telling the senator that he will be endorsing Mrs. Clinton in the coming days and discussed the announcement on Tuesday, the day she sealed the nomination.
According to the aides, Mr. Obama recorded the Facebook message on Tuesday.
The president had been careful about declaring the race finished, even after Mrs. Clinton gets enough representatives to settle the Democratic nomination.
Honored to have you with me, @POTUS. I'm fired up and ready to go! -H— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 9, 2016
Mr. Obama also praised Mr. Sanders for what he called an "incredible campaign," praising the senator's emphasis on addressing income inequality, reducing the influence of money in politics, and bringing young people into the political process which he believed would strengthen the party.
Mr. Sanders left the White House 90 minutes before the video was posted.
"I'm with her, I am fired up, and I cannot wait to get out there to campaign for Hillary," Mr. Obama said.
The Clinton campaign then announced that Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton would campaign together in Green Bay, Wis., on Wednesday.
Source: CNN The New York Times
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