Brian Snyder/Reuters
Bernie Sanders formally endorsed Hillary Clinton on Tuesday morning at a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire—a state he won earlier this year in the Democratic primary. The two met in-person for the first time since a private conversation last month.
Sanders began his address by touting the successes of his campaign and thanking the 13 million people who voted for him in the primaries. He acknowledged his shortcomings when it comes to the number of pledged delegates and super-delegates he received, and congratulated Clinton for securing the Democratic nomination. “I intend to do everything I can to make certain she will be the next president of the United States,” he said to rousing applause.
Sanders also hit presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump for his positions on the minimum wage, healthcare and more, in addition to his comments about minorities. Notably, Sanders did not mention trade or the Trans-Pacific Partnership—which he strongly opposes and made a cornerstone of his campaign—in his prepared remarks.
In her prepared remarks, a relieved Clinton said she was happy to have Sanders on board and that the two have worked together in recent weeks on policy issues—many of which made their way into the party's official platform. His reputation for passionate advocacy hasn't always made him the most popular person in Washington,” Clinton said of her former rival. “But that's a sign you're doing something right.”
The endorsement comes two weeks before the start of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. It is unclear whether Sanders will be an active surrogate for Clinton throughout the general election campaign.