Former President Barack Obama emerged from political hibernation and endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden’s candidacy in the 2020 presidential race on Tuesday. In his twelve-minute endorsement video, Obama called on Americans of “all political stripes” to “unite in a great awakening against a politics that too often has been characterized by corruption, carelessness, self-dealing, disinformation, ignorance, and plain meanness.”

Citing Biden’s private and vice-presidential experiences, Obama lauded the former vice president as the right candidate to lead the country not just in policy, but through crises like the current coronavirus pandemic and its resulting economic troubles. “That’s why I’m so proud to endorse Joe Biden for President of the United States,” Obama added. He also noted that this year had “one of the most impressive Democratic fields ever,” and commended Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT): “Bernie is an American original.”

Sanders suspended his presidential campaign on Apr. 8, and in a Monday livestream on economic recovery from coronavirus, surprised Biden with his endorsement: “I am asking all Americans,” he said, “to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy, which I endorse.”

These endorsements from key Democrats mark attempts to consolidate the Democratic party to defeat President Donald Trump in November.