President Barack Obama endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for President Thursday afternoon -- a big boost to Clinton’s presidential ambitions as the presumptive Democratic candidate.
In a video released Thursday, Obama praises Clinton for becoming the first woman to lock up the presidential nomination in any major party.
Obama also says he is confident Clinton can get the job done.
“I know how hard this job can be,” Obama says in the video. “That’s why I know Hillary will be so good at it.”
Obama also says he doesn’t think there has ever been anyone so qualified to hold office, citing her “compassion” and “heart” as reasons why she would excel as president.
Clinton served as Obama’s Secretary of State from 2009-2013.
"I have seen her judgment, I have seen her toughness, I've seen her commitment to our values up close,” Obama said. "I'm with her, and I cannot wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary."
Their first joint campaign stop will be next week in Wisconsin.
Obama’s endorsement comes the same day he met with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who plans to continue campaigning through the Washington, D.C. primary.
The president acknowledged Sanders’ resounding call to get out the vote, specifically with youth voters, who have strongly supported his candidacy.
"There are millions of Americans, not just Democrats, who've cast their ballots for the very first time. And a lot of that is thanks to Senator Bernie Sanders, who has run an incredible campaign,” Obama said. “I had a great meeting with him this week and I thanked him for shining a spotlight on issues like economic inequality, on the outsized influence of money on our politics, and bringing young people into the process."
Republican presumptive nominee, businessman Donald Trump, wasn’t impressed by the president’s endorsement.
“Obama just endorsed Crooked Hillary. He wants four more years of Obama—but nobody else does!” he tweeted.
Clinton fired back, telling Trump to delete his Twitter account.
View President Obama’s endorsement below:
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
