"Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States," Bernie Sanders said. "The choice is not even close." | Getty Sanders: ‘Clinton must become the next president’

Defeated presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Monday moved to push past a sharply divisive Democratic primary as he urged unity behind Hillary Clinton, saying that the choice in the general election “is not even close.”

Speaking to an emotional crowd that included many vocal Sanders supporters, the Vermont senator vowed to do "all that I can" to help Clinton reach the White House, offering a strong defense of her progressive bona fides.


“This election is about which candidate understands the real problems facing this country and has offered real solutions — not just bombast, fear-mongering, name-calling and divisiveness,” he said at a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. “We need leadership in this country which will improve the lives of working families, the children, the elderly, the sick and the poor. We need leadership which brings our people together and makes us stronger — not leadership which insults Latinos, Muslims, women, African-Americans and veterans — and divides us up.

“By these measures,” he continued, “any objective observer will conclude that — based on her ideas and her leadership — Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States. The choice is not even close."

Those remarks were met by a mix of both cheers and chants of "Bernie! Bernie!" from Sanders' supporters, some of whom had tears in their eyes during his speech.

But Sanders vouched for Clinton aggressively, arguing that on issues from health care to education to climate change, she is committed to progressive ideals, in stark contrast to her Republican opponent.

"I have known Hillary Clinton for 25 years," he said. "I remember her, as you do, as a great first lady who broke precedent in terms of the role that a first lady was supposed to play as she helped lead the fight for universal health care. I served with her in the United States Senate and know her as a fierce advocate for the rights of children, for women and for the disabled.

"Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president and I am proud to stand with her here tonight," he added.

Sanders took the stage in Philadelphia after two days of riotous protests from his supporters.

Fuel was only added to that fire as a release of emails from WikiLeaks suggested the Democratic National Committee had tried to tip the scales in Clinton’s favor.

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz stepped down, but pro-Sanders delegates and protesters made clear that in their view, that wasn’t enough. Boos and jeers punctuated many of the speakers who opened the convention Monday night, while protests raged outside the convention hall.

"I understand that many people here in this convention hall and around the country are disappointed about the final results of the nominating process," Sanders said, as many in the crowd shouted their frustration. "I think it’s fair to say that no one is more disappointed than I am. But to all of our supporters – here and around the country – I hope you take enormous pride in the historical accomplishments we have achieved."

Sanders told the audience that together, "we have begun a political revolution to transform America and that revolution – our revolution – continues."





He sought to encourage his supporters by ticking through a list of liberal priorities that, he said, they had secured from the broader Democratic Party, including rhetoric in the platform that calls for “breaking up the major financial institutions on Wall Street,” and language that opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“It is no secret that Hillary Clinton and I disagree on a number of issues,” he said. “That’s what this campaign has been about. That’s what democracy is about. But I am happy to tell you that at the Democratic Platform Committee there was a significant coming together between the two campaigns and we produced, by far, the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party.”

He went on to add, “Our job now is to see that platform implemented by a Democratic Senate, a Democratic House and a Hillary Clinton presidency — and I am going to do everything I can to make that happen.”