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Conor Coyle Sharecast News
26 Jul, 2016 08:49 26 Jul, 2016 09:53

Sanders supporters disrupt Democrat convention despite calls for unity

Former presidential hopeful urges his fans to back Hillary Clinton to defeat Donald Trump

  • Michelle Obama gives rousing speech in favour of former Secretary of State
  • Months of intense campaigning ahead with the US to elect its next president in November

After a controversial Republican National Convention last week, the Democrats continued the drama on Monday as the divide between supporters of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders showed no signs of letting up on the first day of their gathering.

Supporters of the Vermont senator repeatedly disrupted speakers throughout the evening, jeering at the mention of the presumptive nominee Clinton's name during the first hours of the event.

Sanders himself appealed to those in the crowd to back unity and to get behind Clinton in the race, saying the choice between her and rival Donald Trump is "not even close".

“Any objective observer will conclude that – based on her ideas and her leadership – Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States,” Sanders proclaimed after eventually silencing the crowd.

As the evening progressed, first lady Michelle Obama appeared to stabilise proceedings with a powerful speech in support of Clinton.

“Because of Hillary Clinton our daughters, and all our sons and daughters, now take for granted that woman can be president of the United States,” said Obama emotionally.

“In this election we cannot sit back and hope that everything works out for the best. Between now and November we need to do what we did eight years ago and four years ago,” added the first lady.

The disruption came after leaked emails from the party appeared to suggest that there was bias against Sanders during his campaign to defeat Clinton in the primaries.

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