WASHINGTON, June 9 (UPI) — President Barack Obama won’t formally endorse Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton to succeed him in the Oval Office until after he meets with Bernie Sanders on Thursday, the White House said.
Sources said earlier this week that Obama was eager to begin stumping for Clinton on the campaign trail, but Wednesday White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the president’s support won’t be made official until he can sit down with the former secretary of state’s only remaining rival for the nomination.
“At this point, the president believes Senator Sanders has more than earned the right to make his own decision about the direction of his campaign,” Earnest said.
“We are getting very close to the end of the nomination process,” Earnest added.
Wednesday, it was reported that Sanders laid off about half of his staff after Tuesday’s primary votes.
Obama traveled to New York City Wednesday to speak at two Democratic fundraisers and tape a segment for “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon.
