DNC CONVENTION | Sanders urges supporters to get behind Clinton

PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who lost a sometimes bitter primary election to HIllary Clinton, said tonight at the Democratic National Convention his supporters must get behind Clinton to defeat Donald Trump.

The Vermont senator was greeted by a standing ovation as he walked to the podium, waving enthusiastically at his supporters.

He spent the first part of his talk speaking about the progressive revolution his campaign started. "This election is about and must be about the needs of the American people and the kind of future we create for our children and grandchildren," Sanders said. "This election is about ending the 40-year decline of our middle class." He said 47 million Americans live in poverty.

He said Republicans want us to forget about the illegal activity on Wall Street that cost 800,000 people a day their jobs.

He thanks President Obama and Vice president Biden for their leadership of pulling America out of the nation's terrible recession, but he said much more needs to be done.

"We need leadership that brings our people together and which makes us stronger, not leadership that insults Muslims, Latinos, African-Americans, and seeks to divide us up," Sanders said.

Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States, he said, saying her presidency will insure the rights of the LGBT community, and the government's ability to protect our environment.

He said he and Clinton have reached an agreement that will revolutionize education by allowing students whose parents earn $125,000 a year or less to go to public university tuition free.

He said Clinton will work to improve the environment and reduce the number of people uninsured or underinsured.