US: Obama calls Democratic candidates as primaries end

By Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON (AA) – President Barack Obama called Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to congratulate them for their primary race.

“The President congratulated Secretary Clinton for securing the delegates necessary to clinch the Democratic Nomination for President,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement. “Her historic campaign inspired millions and is an extension of her lifelong fight for middle-class families and children.”

As the Tuesday primary results were still coming in, the former secretary of state already had obtained more than the 2,384 delegates needed to become the party nominee in the general election to be held in November.

According to Earnest, Obama also thanked Vermont Senator Sanders for “energizing millions of Americans with his commitment to issues like fighting economic inequality and special interests' influence on our politics.”

Earnest said that Senator Sanders requested to meet Obama at the White House and added the two leaders would meet on Thursday “to continue their conversation about the significant issues at stake in this election.”

“The President looks forward to continuing the conversation with Senator Sanders about how to build on the extraordinary work he has done to engage millions of Democratic voters, and to build on that enthusiasm in the weeks and months ahead,” Earnest added.