Obama reportedly close to endorsing Clinton

After staying above the campaign fray for months, US President Barack Obama could endorse Hillary Clinton as early as this week as the Democratic presidential nominee, nudging Bernie Sanders to finally abandon his long-fought challenge, US media have reported. The expected Obama endorsement, reported by The New York Times and CNN, would come as a welcome boost to Clinton and to Democrats concerned that the party needs to turn its attention fully to campaigning against Republican nominee Donald Trump. While he has made remarks indicating a preference for Clinton, his former secretary of state, Obama has so far avoided a clear endorsement and has focused his remarks about the campaign on blasting Trump. A senior White House official would not comment on timing of any endorsement but said Obama is eager to campaign where he might be useful. Clinton has long been the front-runner to be the Democratic nominee in the 8 November election but has faced an unexpectedly tough fight against Sanders, a US senator from Vermont who has attacked her from the left. She is expected to clinch the party nomination on Tuesday when voters in six states cast ballots. Her campaign hopes an expected...