U.S. President Barack Obama has endorsed Hillary Clinton, his former secretary of state, to be the next president -- saying he doesn’t think there has ever been someone so qualified to hold the office.
Speaking in a campaign video for Clinton that was released on June 9 after he met with Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s rival for the Democratic Party’s nomination, Obama said he was with Clinton, “fired up,” and “cannot wait to get out there and campaign with Hillary.”
Obama said Clinton and Sanders "may have been rivals during this primary, but they are both patriots" who "share a vision for the America that we all believe in -- an America that's hopeful, an America that's big-hearted, an America that is strong, and fair, and gives every child the same chance that we had."
Clinton welcomed Obama’s endorsement and said she would act to “rein in Wall Street” during her first 100 days in office.
Clinton has previously used that phrase to describe her plans to discourage hazardous investment behavior by financial institutions, ensure the independence of financial regulators, increase transparency on the stock markets, and hold executives of financial firms accountable for wrongdoing.
Sanders said after his meeting with Obama that he will continue his campaign and take his key issues to the party's national convention in July despite Clinton's declaration that she has won the nomination.
Sanders did not endorse Clinton or concede the race for the Democratic nomination to her.
But he said he would do everything he can to stop the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, from being elected because he thinks the billionaire businessman and reality TV star would be "a disaster as president of the United States."
"It is unbelievable to me -- and I say this in all sincerity -- that the Republican Party would have a candidate for president who in the year 2016 makes bigotry and discrimination the cornerstone of his campaign," Sanders said.
Sanders also said he would meet with Clinton in the near further to discuss working together against Trump, who has offended many with comments about Muslims, Mexicans, and women but has won over many Americans expressing concerns about terrorism, immigration, and the economy.
"Needless to say, I am going to do everything in my power -- and I will work as hard as I can -- to make sure that Donald Trump does not become president of the United States," Sanders said.
Clinton claimed victory in the race for the Democratic nomination late on June 7 after winning primaries in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.
Democratic Party strategists want Sanders to recognize Clinton as the party's candidate and urge his supporters to vote for her in the November 8 presidential election.
