There was also a younger Sanders supporter shouting “Never Hillary”, as well as mentions of the FBI investigation into Clinton’s email server, while sitting next to older women supporting Clinton, who appeared to be getting increasingly tense.
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“I am proud to be fighting alongside you, because, my friends, this is a time for all of us to stand together – these have been hard days for America”, Clinton said.
The joint appearance concluded weeks of negotiations between the two camps as Sanders pressed for concessions from Clinton on his liberal policy agenda.
“This campaign is not about Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, or any other candidate”.
She added that the former secretary of state had “a major hand in creating the crises we face: disastrous crime bill, (the North American Free Trade Agreement), Wall St deregulation, destroying (the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program)”.
Sanders was powered by an impressive online fundraising machine that raised more than $200 million and threatened Clinton’s once overwhelming lead in the Democratic primaries with the help of college students, independents and white voters drawn to his anti-establishment message. He praised President Obama for guiding the country out of a recession.
In most cases, an endorsement from a former opponent in a political primary is a big boost for any campaign.
“It’s like he’s giving up if he endorses her”, said Steve Rand, a hardware store owner from Plymouth, New Hampshire, before the two candidates took the stage. “In the richest country in the history of the world, there is too much poverty, there is too much despair”.
Sanders also said Trump does not share those values.
Putting aside the acrimony, Ms Clinton thanked Mr Sanders for his endorsement – even if their body language did not exude warmth and was downright awkward at times. If Clinton cannot equal those margins – and maintain the turnout rate – it could jeopardize her election hopes. He said Trump would not hike the current minimum wage and would appoint Supreme Court justices that would threaten civil liberties and equal rights.
Finally, and most significantly, Sanders signaled that he would not contest the Democratic platform in Philadelphia.
It looks like the race to secure the Democratic presidential nomination is officially over. That is what this campaign is about, that’s what democracy is about. “Our job now is to see that platform implemented by a Democratic Senate, a Democratic House and a Hillary Clinton White House – and I am going to do everything I can to make that happen”.
“I intend to do everything I can to make certain she will be the next president of the United States”, the US senator from Vermont said.
During a lengthy speech, Sanders insisted on the need to make access to health care universal and to offer young people access to university educations without their having to go into heavy debt.
New Hampshire is where Sanders first served notice of the strength of his campaign by beating Clinton handily in the primary.
“His reputation for passionate advocacy hasn’t made him the most popular person on Washington”, Clinton said.
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“I know that many of you feel frustrated that we did not win every battle”.
