PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, clearing the way to a united front for the party heading into its convention this month.

Sanders, in his remarks at as shared rally, drew sharp contrasts between her and Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

"This campaign is not really about Hillary Clinton, or Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders, or any other candidate who sought the presidency. This campaign is about the needs of the American people and addressing the very serious crises that we face," Sanders said.

He added, "There is no doubt in my mind that, as we head into November, Hillary Clinton is far and away the best candidate."

Dropping his portrayal of Clinton as a captive of Wall Street billionaires and big-money interests, Sanders redirected such accusations at Trump, saying the Republican's proposed tax cuts would be a windfall to wealthy Americans.

"In these stressful times for our country, this election must be about bringing our people together, not dividing us up," Sanders said. "While Donald Trump is busy insulting Mexicans, Muslims, women, African Americans and veterans, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths."

Aligning himself with Clinton on creating more jobs, raising the minimum wage, expanding access to government-run health care, combating climate change and offering relief to college students in deep debt, Sanders said the words he had withheld since losing the primary delegate battle: "I am endorsing Hillary Clinton."

"It is no secret that Hillary Clinton and I disagree on a number of issues -- that is what this campaign has been about, that is what democracy is about," said Sanders, who only three months ago declared that Clinton was "unqualified" to be president.

Standing beside him in the gymnasium at Portsmouth High School, Clinton applauded as Sanders spoke, then shared their first hug when he finished; a microphone caught her saying, "you were great, so great" and "thank you so much."

During much of her remarks, Clinton embraced many of Sanders' causes, vowing to oppose trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, fight to raise the federal minimum wage -- adopting Sanders' tone, she called it a "starvation wage" -- and overhaul the campaign finance system.

"These aren't just my fights. These are Bernie's fights. These are America's fights," Clinton said.

Clinton urged Democrats to come together against Trump.

"With your help, we're joining forces to defeat Donald Trump, win in November and build a future we can all believe in," Clinton said. "I am proud to be fighting alongside you because, my friends, this is a time for all of us to stand together."

In her appeal to Sanders' supporters, Clinton pledged to overhaul Wall Street and the campaign finance system.

"It is past time to end the stranglehold of wealthy special interests in Washington," she said as Sanders smiled and clapped.

She tried to strike the right notes, though, such as pledging to uphold "our progressive values."

"You will always have a seat at the table when I am in the White House," she said to Sanders' backers.

Democrats are expected to nominate Clinton as their candidate in two weeks at their party convention in Philadelphia. Likewise, Republicans are to name Trump as their nominee next week in Cleveland.

'Won't Vote Hillary'

Some Sanders supporters at the event in Portsmouth jeered Clinton's name and held signs saying "Won't Vote Hillary" while others shushed them and chanted "Unity."

Chants of "Bernie" broke out in the gymnasium while opening speakers addressed the crowd, prompting Clinton's faithful to chant "Unity."

For many of Sanders' supporters, voting for Clinton is still hard to fathom.

"I'm a Bernie guy," explained Noah Levin, a college student in Hampstead who wore an "H" for Hillary sticker on his T-shirt but said he wasn't sure he would support Clinton in the fall. "I won't vote for Trump, but November is a long way away," he said.

"It's like he's giving up if he endorses her," said Steve Rand, a hardware store owner from Plymouth, N.H., before the two candidates took the stage. He added: "She stands for everything that I am against.

But James LePage, a 25-year-old teacher from Denver who attended the rally, said he felt Clinton was "genuine" in her remarks.

"I heard a lot of Bernie in her voice, which I wasn't willing to listen to before," LePage said.

Clinton and Sanders stood before a giant American flag and Clinton's motto, "Stronger Together." The clashes in the audience quickly subsided, and Sanders drew some of his strongest cheers as he described his challenge against Clinton and his primary and caucus victories in 22 states.

Sanders has vowed to continue on until the convention, and even though he endorsed Clinton, he is still an active candidate, his campaign said after the joint appearance. Spokesman Michael Briggs said Sanders still supports holding a roll call vote at the convention to determine the nomination.

Sanders has spent the past month seeking to influence the party's platform for the Philadelphia convention and promote electoral changes including allowing independents to participate in future primaries. He called the platform "the most progressive" in history and hailed steps to create a $15 an hour minimum wage, prevent Wall Street malfeasance and address climate change.

Trump

As Sanders delivered his endorsement, the Trump campaign, sent out a statement saying "Bernie is now officially a part of a rigged system" for "endorsing one of the most pro-war, pro-Wall Street, and pro-offshoring candidates in the history of the Democratic Party."

Trump himself, who has courted Sanders' backers as the primaries have winded down, accused Sanders of capitulating to Clinton.

"Bernie Sanders, who has lost most of his leverage, has totally sold out to Crooked Hillary Clinton," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Sanders was not true to himself and his supporters."

In his own campaign appearance Tuesday evening, Trump campaigned alongside Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

Walking onto the stage to cheers, Pence introduced the New Yorker and advocated Trump as the best person to lead the country.

"Donald Trump hears the voice of the American people," Pence said, saying that the businessman "understands" the country in a way no one has since Republican icon Ronald Reagan.

Trump opened by reading prepared remarks about shootings that have dominated headlines in recent days. He said his comments come "right from the heart." He spoke hours after a memorial service for police officers slain in Texas.

"Our whole nation grieves and mourns for the loss of five heroes in Dallas," he said. He again referred to himself as "the law and order candidate." And he said "hostility against the police must end." He also touched on the deaths of men in Louisiana and Minnesota at the hands of officers. Video footage of those shootings has riveted the nation.

"It was tough to watch," he said. "We have to figure it out."

He questioned whether inadequate officer training or "something else" was responsible.

Information for this article was contributed by Amy Chozick, Patrick Healy and Yamiche Alcindor of The New York Times and by Ken Thomas, Kathleen Ronayne, Catherine Lucey, Lisa Lerer and Julie Bykowicz of The Associated Press.

A Section on 07/13/2016