President Obama made clear on Wednesday that he considers the Democratic nominating contest over, even as he noted that Bernie Sanders helped get Clinton ready to take on Donald Trump.
In an appearance that will air Thursday, Obama spoke about the Democratic primary in the past tense to “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon.
“But you know what? Obama said. “It was a healthy thing for the Democratic Party to have a contested primary. I thought that Bernie Sanders brought enormous energy and new ideas,” the president said about the independent senator from Vermont’s long-shot bid for the nomination, according to a rough transcript.
“And he pushed the party and challenged them. I thought it made Hillary a better candidate. I think she is whip-smart. She is tough,” Obama continued.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest earlier on Wednesday made clear that Obama would not officially endorse his former top diplomat as the next Democratic candidate ahead of the Obama’s private meeting with Sanders at the White House on Thursday. However, Obama’s interview with Fallon made clear that the one-time long-shot presidential candidate himself considers the match concluded.
Obama also telegraphed he expects next month’s national convention in Philadelphia to be a Clinton coronation, not a contested affair.
“So there’s a natural process of everybody recognizing that this is not about any individual; but this is about the country and the direction we’re gonna take it,” Obama explained. “And I think we’re gonna have a great convention and we’ll do well.”
He also took a shot at presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in spinning his Democratic “Kumbaya” convergence. Obama said his main job in the contest to succeed him is “to remind the American people that this is a serious job; you know, this is not reality TV.”
