Bernie Sanders to Meet Hillary Clinton After Obama Meeting
Bernie Sanders has announced he will meet Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton “soon” but has not endorsed her.
After speaking with President Barack Obama, the Vermont senator said he and Hillary Clinton would be meeting to discuss their common goal of defeating Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump.
Bernie Sanders virtually has no path left to the Democratic nomination but has not formally dropped out.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has captured enough delegates to become the nominee.
Speaking outside the White House after his meeting with President Obama, Bernie Sanders detailed a list of issues he plans to bring to the Democratic convention in July.
Bernie Sanders said the United States, as the wealthiest nation in the world, should not have students in huge amounts of debt and seniors and veterans without adequate social security benefits.
Before his talks with Bernie Sanders, President Obama said he hoped the Democrats would “pull things together” after Hillary Clinton became the party’s presumptive nominee for president.
Bernie Sanders has said he will participate in the District of Columbia primary on June 14, despite pressure to step down from party figures.
Barack Obama stopped short of calling for Bernie Sanders to drop out, instead saying the Vermont senator had made Hillary Clinton a “better candidate”.
The president has officially endorsed Hillary Clinton and called for the party to unite against Donald Trump.
Speaking on NBC’s Tonight Show, Barack Obama admitted the race had been “ouchy”.
However, the president went on to say that this was welcome.
“It was a healthy thing for the Democratic Party to have a contested primary,” he said.
“I thought that Bernie Sanders brought enormous energy and new ideas. And he pushed the party and challenged them. I thought it made Hillary a better candidate.”
Barack Obama added: “My hope is, that over the next couple of weeks, we’re able to pull things together.”
Hillary Clinton won four out of six primaries on June 7.
Hillary Trump has pitched to Bernie Sanders’ supporters: “Bernie Sanders must really dislike Crooked Hillary after the way she played him. Many of his supporters, because of trade, will come to me.”
However, Bernie Sanders said his campaign would not support Donald Trump, “a candidate whose major theme is bigotry”.
During his interview, Barack Obama said he was “worried” for the Republicans, saying the US needed a “healthy two-party system”.