Sanders likely to endorse Clinton next Tuesday

Senator Bernie Sanders speaking to supporters at a Manhattan event on June 23, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON • After three weeks of private preparations, Senator Bernie Sanders is expected to endorse Mrs Hillary Clinton next Tuesday at a campaign event in New Hampshire, according to three Democrats who have been involved in the planning.

But Mrs Clinton still has another headache as the State Department said on Thursday that it will reopen its internal investigation into whether her use of a private e-mail account and server compromised her handling of classified material.

The Clinton campaign on Thursday announced the New Hampshire trip but did not provide details, including any mention of Mr Sanders.

Mr Sanders, in an interview on Thursday with Bloomberg View, came as close to endorsing Mrs Clinton as he ever has, saying: "We have got to do everything that we can to defeat Donald Trump and elect Hillary Clinton."

The three Democrats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the endorsement was partly the result of daily talks between Mrs Clinton's campaign manager, Mr Robby Mook, and the Sanders campaign manager, Mr Jeff Weaver, about bringing together the two rivals and advancing the policy priorities of Mr Sanders.

One possible obstacle to party unity - a fight between Sanders and Clinton allies over a congressional vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal - is not seen as a deal-breaker, the Democrats said.

Mr Sanders has been a staunch opponent of the trade pact, and Mrs Clinton, who once called it "the gold standard in trade agreements", has come out against it too.

But her allies on the platform-writing committee, in line with the wishes of administration officials, have blocked an effort by Sanders allies to insert language opposing it.

NEW YORK TIMES

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 09, 2016, with the headline Sanders likely to endorse Clinton next Tuesday. Subscribe