When the long-awaited presidential tick of approval came for Hillary Clinton, it was accompanied by a slickly-produced handout video....
"I want those of you who've been with me from the beginning of this incredible journey to be the first to know that I'm with her. I am fired up and I cannot wait to get out there and campaign for Hillary."
Urging Democrat unity, Barack Obama sang the praises of the candidate he'd fought against so vigorously for the party's nomination eight years ago.
"I know how hard this job can be. That's why I know Hillary will be so good at it. In fact I don't think there's ever been someone so qualified to hold this office. She's got the courage, the compassion and the heart to get the job done. Even after our own hard-fought campaign, in a testament to her character, she agreed to serve our country as secretary of state. I have seen her judgement, I've seen her toughness. I've seen her commitment to our values up close."
Now the presumptive Democrat nominee after her primary victories this week, Hillary Clinton has welcomed his endorsement.
"It is absolutely a joy and an honour that President Obama and I over the years have gone from fierce competitors to true friends and it means the world to me to know that he has my back in this election. It's a great opportunity for us to campaign together in the general election, just as we did in 2008 when he was running."
There was also praise from the President for fellow Democrat hopeful Bernie Sanders for running what Barack Obama described as an "incredible campaign that shone a spotlight on economic inequality".
But speaking after meeting the President at the White House in Washington, there was no concession from Senator Sanders, despite Hillary Clinton having surpassed the number of delegates in the primaries to secure the nomination.
"I spoke briefly to Secretary Clinton on Tuesday night, and I congratulated her on her very strong campaign. I look forward to meeting with her in the near future to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump and to create a government which represents all of us and not just the one per cent. These are the issues that we will take to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia at the end of July."
Obama Administration spokesman Josh Earnest said Senator Sanders wasn't surprised to hear the President was endorsing his former secretary of state.
"I think you could describe the conversation as a friendly conversation that was focused on the future. There also was a conversation about the long term future of the Democratic Party. And Senator Sanders' campaign enjoyed so much success because he was able to inspire a lot of young people, both Democrats and independents. That's a good thing."
But while Bernie Sanders is winning praise for re-energising the democratic process, he's also under pressure to withdraw from the contest and allow Hillary Clinton to focus her attention on Republican nominee, Donald Trump.
House Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi is one of the most influential Democrats in Washington.
"Bernie Sanders knows what's at stake in this election, what's on the line. I have no doubt that he will be very constructive as we go forward. I also know that it's very hard not to win and it's hard for your supporters especially."
For Hillary Clinton, winning over those supporters who flocked to Bernie Sanders could hold the key to victory over Donald Trump in November.
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