Obama Backs Clinton, Says He's 'Fired up' for Clinton Urging Democrats to Unite

U.S. President Barack Obama officially endorsed Hillary Clinton’s White House bid on Thursday and called for the Democratic Party to unite behind her after a protracted battle with Bernie Sanders for the party nomination.

Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee, said it “means the world” to her that Obama has her back. The endorsement increases pressure on Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, to concede the race so the party can focus on campaigning against Donald Trump, the most lkely Republican nominee for the Nov. 8 election.

“It is absolutely a joy and an honor that President Obama and I over the years have gone from fierce competitors to true friends,” Clinton told Reuters in an interview.

Obama defeated Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primary and she went on to serve as secretary of state in his first term.

Obama, who enjoys strong approval ratings after nearly eight years in office, will campaign with Clinton next week in Wisconsin, her campaign said.”I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office,” Obama said of Clinton in a video. “I’m with her. I am fired up, and I cannot wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary,” Obama said.

Obama had been expected to support Clinton since she won enough delegates this week to clinch the Democratic nomination and become the first woman to lead a major U.S. party as its presidential nominee.

Sanders, who met with Obama at the White House earlier on Thursday, said afterward he would work with Clinton to defeat Trump.

Following President Barack Obama’s endorsement of presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, the White House on Thursday said that Clinton’s rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, was not surprised by the nod of support.

“The president has had the opportunity to speak to Senator Sanders now three times in the last week, and as a result of those conversations, I think it’s fair to say that Senator Sanders was not at all surprised by today’s announcement,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at the daily press briefing.

Sanders said, however, that he would stay in the race to compete in the final Democratic primary vote in Washington, D.C., on June 14.

Obama Backs Clinton, Says He's 'Fired up' for Clinton Urging Democrats to Unite