LOC09:24
06:24 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 28 (KUNA) -- President Barack Obama gave a ringing endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention and illustrated her as a president who will uphold the policies he created over the past eight years.
Obama, who received a unanimous applause upon entering the stage, holds the highest approval rating of any past presidential convention speaker for over 60 years, with the exception of Bill Clinton in 2000, according to a Gallup poll.
"I am even more optimistic about the future of America," said Obama. "How could I not be - after all we've achieved together?"
The president reminded the convention of events "achieved" under his presidency that included the death of Osama Bin Laden, the Iranian nuclear agreement, the Paris talks, the reopening of relations with Cuba, changes in US healthcare system, the economy, and civil rights.
Clinton "sat with me in the Situation Room and forcefully argued in favor of the mission that took out bin Laden," said the President.
"Until you've sat at that desk, you don't know what it's like to manage a global crisis, or send young people to war," he continued. "But Hillary's been in the room; she's been part of those decisions. She knows what's at stake in the decisions our government makes."
"There has never been a man or a woman, not me, not (Former President) Bill (Clinton), nobody is more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America," said Obama
He called the election that will be held on November 8 to be a "fundamental choice about who we are as a people."
The Republican National Convention was not "particularly Republican - and it sure wasn't conservative. What we heard was a deeply pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other, and turn away from the rest of the world," Obama remarked.
He slammed Rival Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as a businessman who achieved success through lawsuits, unpaid workers and cheating people.
"Does anyone really believe that a guy who's spent his 70 years on this Earth showing no regard for working people is suddenly going to be your champion?" Obama asked.
"I have confidence, as I leave this stage tonight, that the Democratic Party is in good hands," the President asserted. "Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me. I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me."
Clinton then appeared on stage next to Obama and joined him in waving to the crowd but did not make any remarks. Her major acceptance speech is scheduled for Thursday night.
Clinton's Vice Presidential running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, spoke before Obama and stressed the Former State Secretary's "passion for kids and families" and cited her record of advocating for children and families.
"Donald Trump has a passion too, it's himself. And with Hillary it's not just accomplishments, she delivers," he added.
Kaine then went on a long scathing attack against Trump and stressed that the candidate offers little value behind his proposals other than saying 'believe me.'
"Trump is a guy who promises a lot, but you might have noticed he's got a way of saying the same two words when he makes his biggest, hugest promises, 'believe me,'" Kaine highlighted.
Current Vice President Joe Biden also spoke to reiterate the calls to stand behind Clinton.
"Everybody knows she is smart. Everybody knows she is tough. But I know what she is passionate about," Biden said. "I know Hillary. Hillary understands. Hillary gets it."
Biden called Trump, "a man who embraces the tactics of our enemies, torture, religious intolerance. You all know, all the Republicans know. That's not who we are. It betrays our values. ... Donald Trump with all his rhetoric would literally make us less safe."
"No major party nominee in the history of this nation has ever known less or has ever been less prepared," he concluded, regarding the Republican candidate. (end)
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