“Obviously, Secretary Clinton has won. So congratulations to her. I am sure they feel good about that, they should,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said.

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Earnest also applauded Sanders, saying the self-proclaimed democratic socialist’s “passionate following” fired up liberals and helped make the race close.

“This is the first contest in what I expect will be a series of competitive ones,” Earnest said.

“Secretary Clinton knows better than anybody that the path to the Democratic nomination is a long one,” he added, referring to her 2008 upset loss against Obama in Iowa, and subsequent bounce-back win in New Hampshire.

The spokesman predicted that a lengthy Democratic primary would not hobble Clinton for the general election if she does eventually become the nominee, as is expected.

“It’s good for the country, it’s good for the Democratic process,” he said.

Clinton, who served four years as Obama’s secretary of State, is widely believed to be the president’s preferred successor.

Obama made remarks in an interview last week that strongly suggest he supports Clinton over Sanders, but since then has sought to strike a neutral pose in the Democratic nominating contest.