Obama suggests voters holding Clinton to a double standard

President Barack Obama has suggested that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton faces a double standard as the first female presidential nominee of a major party against an outlandish opponent whose rhetoric and behaviour were being normalised.

"I saw her as my Secretary of State. I saw her in the Situation Room making arguments to go after (Osama) bin Laden even though it was risky, tirelessly circling the globe as Secretary of State, respected around the world," Obama said on Tuesday during a rally in Columbus, Ohio.

"Her efforts are not always flashy and they're not always appreciated here at home, but she made me a better president and she didn't ask for credit."

Pitting Clinton against Republican rival Donald Trump, Obama argued that the choice to succeed him is not even close, Politico reported.

It's Clinton, he stressed, who has the experience, intelligence, temperament and heart to occupy the Oval Office.

The President even swatted down the "I love you" that was shouted from the crowd so he could continue making his case, remarking that "I love you back, but I want talk about Hillary for a second."

"You know, we always want to see the new shiny object, and if you get beat up enough in this political environment that's so toxic, after a while people start believing stuff. Hillary Clinton is consistently treated differently than just about any other candidate I see out there," Obama said.

Obama challenged men specifically to look in the mirror and ask themselves why, exactly, they may be feeling so much discomfort with Clinton, Politico reported.

"I want every man out there who's voting to look inside yourself and ask yourself," he said, adding "When a guy's ambitious and out in the public arena and working hard, well, that's OK. But when a woman suddenly does it, suddenly you're all like, 'Well, why is she doing that?' I'm just being honest."

Obama railed against the Republican nominee, casting Trump as an atypical candidate who is "uniquely unqualified" for office and would erase the progress of his administration if elected.

Clinton, he said, summarising his position, "is so much better qualified than the other guy. She has conducted herself so much better in public life than the other guy. That this notion that somehow, you know, it's hard to choose - it shouldn't be."

--IANS

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