Obama Stumps for Clinton at 1st Joint Campaign Stop

President Barack Obama heartily vouched for Hillary Clinton's trustworthiness and dedication on Tuesday, making his first outing on the campaign stump for his former secretary of state, the AP reports. "I'm here today because I believe in Hillary Clinton," Obama said. "I have had a front-row seat to her judgment and her commitment." Obama spoke at his first joint campaign appearance with Clinton in North Carolina, a state Clinton is hoping to put back in the Democrats' column, hours after the FBI director blasted Clinton for her handling of classified material, though stopping short of recommending charges. Regardless, the duo was welcomed by a screaming crowd of supporters in Charlotte. The president led chants of "Hillary!" as they stood onstage under banners reading "Stronger Together."

Referring back to their own primary battle in 2008, Obama said, "We may have gone toe to toe, from coast to coast, but we stood shoulder to shoulder for the ideals that we share." Obama got a dig in at Trump during the event. "Anybody can tweet but nobody actually knows what it takes" to be president, he said. The Clinton campaign hopes Obama can reassure voters about her experience, talent, and character—and speak to their questions about her honesty and trustworthiness. Clinton noted that she has been Obama's loyal ally, serving in his Cabinet when asked and then traveling the world representing his foreign policy. She also lavished praise on his record. "He's made difficult, even unpopular, decisions for the good of our country," Clinton said. (More Hillary Clinton stories.)