Clinton thanks Obama for his endorsement: 'We went from being fierce competitors to true friends'

Hillary Clinton and President Obama debate in 2008.

(Image credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

published 9 June 2016

Shortly after earning the official endorsement of President Obama for president, Hillary Clinton marveled at how far they'd come since the days of their intense face-offs in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. "We went from being fierce competitors to true friends and I'm very grateful for this endorsement," Clinton told Politico in a phone interview Thursday.

While Obama and Clinton were once battling each other on the campaign trail, Obama is now "raring to get out there and start campaigning" for her. "She's got the courage, the compassion, and the heart to get the job done," Obama said in his endorsement. "And I say that as somebody who had to debate her more than 20 times. Even after our own hard-fought campaign, in a testament to her character, she agreed to serve her country as secretary of state."

Obama and Clinton's first joint appearance on the campaign trail is set to take place next Wednesday in Green Bay, Wisconsin.