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| President Barack Obama speaks at campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Sept 13, 2016, at Eakins Oval in Philadelphia, US. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) |
Speaking at an outdoor rally in a Democratic stronghold, Obama praised Clinton as the most qualified candidate ever to seek the office and mocked her opponent Donald Trump as "not fit in any way" to lead.
He suggested Clinton was again the victim of unfair treatment and a scandal machine that has dogged her throughout her long political career.
"What sets Hillary apart is that through it all she just keeps on going and she doesn't stop caring and she doesn't stop trying and she never stops fighting for us even if we haven't always appreciated it," Obama said.
The remarks were the closest Obama came to mentioning Clinton's rough weekend, during which she disparaged "half" of Trump supporters and then backtracked somewhat on her remarks. She also was forced to abruptly leave an event because of an illness she had not disclosed. Clinton was caught on video struggling to stay on her feet. Her campaign later said she been diagnosed with pneumonia. Clinton canceled campaign events this week to recover, but is due back on the trail Thursday.
Her campaign said she spent Tuesday reading briefing material, making calls and watching Obama's speech on television.
The incident and the campaign's attempt to keep the diagnosis secret revived long-held concerns about Clinton's tendency to hunker down during a crisis, making matters worse.
To an audience of roughly 6,000 supporters in downtown Philadelphia, Obama argued that Clinton has been more transparent in providing health and financial records than her rival, as well as releasing her past tax returns while Trump refuses to release his.
Obama said the Clinton Foundation has "saved countless lives around the world," while Trump used his charity to buy "a six-foot-tall painting of himself," Obama said, referencing a Washington Post investigation of Trump's charity.
"I mean, you know, he had the taste not to go for the 10-foot version," he said.
Obama's event at an outdoor plaza in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art was his third for Clinton, including his speech at the Democratic National Convention, also in Philadelphia.
"Look, can I just say I am really into electing Hillary Clinton. Like this not me going through the motions here," he said. "I really, really, really want to elect Hillary Clinton."
Obama also appealed to Trump supporters. He tried to undermine the Republican businessman's claim as a working-class hero.
Branding Republicans as promoting "a dark vision," the president said, "They're not offering serious solutions — they're just fanning resentment, and blame, and anger, and hate."
