Sanders endorses Clinton after long battle for Democratic presidential nomination

Bernie Sanders has finally endorsed Hillary Clinton for the US Democratic presidential nomination after appearing with his former rival on Tuesday in a high school gym in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The pair stood before an American flag with Clinton's campaign slogan, "Stronger Together", as Sanders proclaimed "Secretary Clinton has won the Democratic nominating process."

“And I congratulate her for that. She will be the Democratic nominee for president, and I intend to do everything I can to make certain that she will be the next president of the United States.”

Sanders caused a storm in US politics during the last 14 months, opposing the wife of former president Bill Clinton on an independent ticket based on broadly socialist policies which resonated with lots of young and energetic supporters.

He frequently criticised Clinton's big-money interests and the pair clashed on key policies on various occasions, but the Vemront senator has also spoken about the need to defeat Donald Trump in the upcoming election.

13 million Americans voted for Sanders during the nomination process, with Clinton's caused massively helped by her domination of super-delegates, which can override an individual state's decision.

13 million Americans voted for Sanders during the nomination process

She has struggled to appeal to the independents and liberals who rallied behind the senator’s call for a “political revolution” to topple establishment politicians, Mrs. Clinton included.

The two former rivals have been engaged in talks during the last month or so, in order to come to some sort of a broad agreement on policies to bring the Democrats' forward during their contest with presumptive Republican nominee Trump.