Michelle issues rousing battle cry for Hillary to calm rattled Democrats

Barack Obama have told their daughters not to do. “Ignore those who question their father’s citizenship or faith,” she said, adding that she often reminds her children that “hateful language from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country”. She added: “In this election there is only one person I trust with that responsibilit y ... Hillary Clinton. When you have the nuclear codes at your fingertips and the military at your command, you can’t make snap decisions, you need to be steady.” Mrs Obama said she woke “every morning in a house built by slaves ... I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn. And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters — all of our sons and daughters — now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.”

Party leaders will be hoping antagonism between the Clinton and Sanders camps will now be laid to rest.

Delegates in Sanders badges and T-shirts were vociferous in their opposition to Mrs Clinton. But the Vermont senator said that “based on her ideas and her leadership, Hillary Clinton must become the next president.

“If you don’t believe this election is important ... think about the Supreme Court justices Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties and equal rights.”