Obama tells US Democrats: Don’t boo, vote

US President Barack Obama was coming to the part of his democratic convention speech on Wednesday night when he was about to criticize Donald Trump, when the mention of the GOP nominee’s name caused the crowd of delegates to boo.

Obama did not miss a beat.

He deviated from his prepared remarks to implore his fellow partisans: “Don’t boo. Vote!”

With his own legacy on the line, Obama implored Americans to elect Hillary Clinton to the White House, casting her as a candidate who believes in the optimism that drives the nation’s democracy and warning against the “deeply pessimistic vision” of Republican Donald Trump.

“America is already great. America is already strong,” he declared to cheering delegates Wednesday night at the Democratic convention. “And I promise you, our strength, our greatness, does not depend on Donald Trump.”

Trump fueled more controversy Wednesday when he encouraged Russia to meddle in the presidential campaign. On the heels of reports that Russia may have hacked Democratic Party emails, Trump said, “Russia, if you're listening,” it would be desirable to see Moscow find and publish the thousands of emails Clinton says she deleted during her years as secretary of state.