Obama passes baton to Clinton, says no one ever more qualified

The two-time president, also the first black to have occupied the top post, said he was 'ready to pass the baton' to his rival in 2008 as he painted an optimistic picture of an 'already great nation'.

"I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman - not me, not Bill (Clinton), nobody - more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America," Obama said amid deafening cheers from thousands of delegates and guests packed into a sports arena.

In his 45-minute fiery speech, the most high-profile in the ongoing Democratic national convention, Obama asked Americans to shun 'cynicism and fear' being propagated by the 70-year-old reality TV star.

"And now I'm ready to pass the baton and do my part as a private citizen. So this year, in this election, I'm asking you to join me, to reject cynicism and reject fear and to summon what is best in us; to elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States and show the world we still believe in the promise of this great nation," he said.

Obama, 54, said the November 8 presidential elections were a 'fundamental choice' about what the country is and the very 'meaning of our democracy', and 'not just a choice between parties or policies; the usual debates between left and right'.

He endorsed 68-year-old Clinton, who had served as the secretary of state under his presidency, for having a first-hand knowledge of the challenges that come with the job and contrasted it with the lack of experience of the Republican nominee - a non-politician.

"You know, nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office. Until you've sat at that desk, you don’t know what it's like to manage a global crisis, or send young people to war. But Hillary's been in the room; she's been part of those decisions.

"He (Trump) is not really a plans guy. Not really a facts guy, either. He calls himself a business guy, which is true, but I have to say, I know plenty of businessmen and women who've achieved success without leaving a trail of lawsuits, and unpaid workers, and people feeling like they got cheated," he said.

The third day of the convention also witnessed Vice President Joe Biden making an emotional valedictory speech and Clinton's running mate Virginia Senator Tim Kaine formally nominated as the vice presidential candidate.

In a veiled attack at Trump, Obama said America has changed over the years "but these values that my grandparents taught me", are as strong as ever, and "that's why anyone who threatens our values, whether fascists or communists or jihadists or homegrown demagogues, will always fail in the end".

"America is already great. America is already strong. And I promise you, our strength, our greatness does not depend on Donald Trump," he told a rapt audience.

"Our power doesn't come from some self-declared saviour promising that he alone can restore order as long as we do things his way. We don't look to be ruled," he said attacking Trump, who just hours ago had called Obama 'the most ignorant president in our history'.

"Ronald Reagan called America a shining city on a hill," Obama recalled. "Donald Trump calls it a divided crime scene that only he can fix."

The President painted an optimistic picture of America that contrasted sharply with the 'deeply pessimistic vision' of the country presented at last week's Republican convention.

"...what we heard in Cleveland last week wasn't particularly Republican and it sure wasn't conservative. What we heard was a deeply pessimistic vision of a country where we turn against each other and turn away from the rest of the world. There were no serious solutions to pressing problems, just the fanning of resentment and blame and anger and hate. And that is not the America I know.

"A lot's happened over the years. And while this nation has been tested by war and it's been tested by recession and all manner of challenges, I stand before you again tonight, after almost two terms as your president, to tell you I am even more optimistic about the future of America than ever before.

Obama said there is 'only one' candidate in the presidential race "who believes in that future, has devoted her life to it; a mother and grandmother who would do anything to help our children thrive, a leader with real plans to break down barriers and blast through glass ceilings and widen the circle of opportunity to every single American, the next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton".

He said that Clinton knows what is at stake in the decisions the government makes and "no matter how daunting the odds; no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits".

At the end of his speech, Clinton - the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major US political party-joined him on stage to deafening shouts from the audience. The pair shared a warm embrace and waved to the crowd.

Making a passionate plea to elect her as his successor, Obama said time and again, they have elected him, and "tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me. I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me".

"We're going to carry Hillary to victory this fall, because that's what the moment demands," Obama said to loud cheers and applause. "The Democratic Party is in good hands."