Obama Endorses Hillary Clinton, and Urges Democrats to Unite

President Obama on Thursday officially endorsed Hillary Clinton to succeed him as president of the United States

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Thursday formally endorsed Hillary Clinton and called her the most qualified candidate to seek the White House, imploring Democrats to come together to elect her after a bruising party primary.

In a video posted on Mrs. Clinton’s Facebook page, Mr. Obama said, “I don’t think there’s ever been someone so qualified to hold this office.”

Mr. Obama is impatient to begin playing an active role in the race to succeed him.

White House officials had been discussing an endorsement with Mrs. Clinton’s camp for days, but they kept the timing of the announcement under wraps, in part as a gesture of respect for Senator Bernie Sanders and his highly motivated coalition of supporters. The president met with Mr. Sanders on Thursday morning.

Mr. Obama told Mr. Sanders in a phone call on Sunday that he would be endorsing Mrs. Clinton in the coming days, according to people familiar with the conversation, and discussed the announcement with Mrs. Clinton on Tuesday, the day she clinched the nomination.

The president had been circumspect about declaring the race finished, even after Mrs. Clinton captured sufficient delegates in primaries on Tuesday to clinch the Democratic nomination. On Thursday, he congratulated her on “making history” and said he had personally witnessed her qualifications for the Oval Office.

“I have seen her judgment, I’ve seen her toughness, I’ve seen her commitment to our values up close,” the president said.

Mr. Obama also praised Mr. Sanders — who left the White House about 90 minutes before the video was posted — for what he called an “incredible campaign.” He said the Vermont senator’s emphasis on addressing income inequality, reducing the influence of money in politics, and bringing young people into the political process would strengthen the party.

“Embracing that message is going to help us win in November,” Mr. Obama said.

He also said that he knew how hard being president can be, and that Mrs. Clinton was up to the job. “She’s got the courage, the compassion, and the heart to get the job done,” he said.

“I’m with her, I am fired up, and I cannot wait to get out there to campaign for Hillary,” Mr. Obama said.

The Clinton campaign then announced that Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton would campaign together in Green Bay, Wis., on Wednesday.