Jay Carney: Obama 'Has Signaled' His Preference for the Democratic Nominee

Though President Barack Obama has made it clear he will not officially endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary, there is no question about who he prefers, according to former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

"I think the president has signaled, while still remaining neutral, that he supports Secretary Clinton's candidacy and would prefer to see her as the nominee," Carney said Wednesday on CNN following Obama's speech to the Illinois state Senate.

Though Carney said the president is "maintaining that tradition of not intervening in a party primary," he added that he doesn't believe there's "any doubt" Obama wants Clinton to win the Democratic Party's nomination for president.

"[Obama] believes she would be the best candidate in the fall and the most effective as president in carrying forward what he has achieved," Carney added.

During his address to the Illinois state Senate, the president seemed to take an indirect shot at Democratic presidential rival Bernie Sanders, saying there is too much focus on defining who is the real Republican or the "true progressive."

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