The timeline is likely to hold regardless of how Clinton rival Senator Bernie Sanders reacts to the Tuesday outcome, the White House said Monday.

White House and Clinton campaign aides have been discussing the sequencing of the long-expected announcement, and Obama’s schedule has several possible opportunities for maximising the impact.

On Wednesday, he’s due in New York City to address donors at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Clinton’s home state. He’ll also tape an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” a favourite with the coveted young demographic, for the show set to air Thursday night.

The news will likely be followed by a first joint appearance before long.

Obama’s expected declaration comes as no surprise. Last week, he declared the Democratic contest was “almost over” and suggested he was waiting for the Tuesday contests before making his move.

The president said he’s been waiting on the sidelines “rather than be big-footing the situation,” to ensure voters are deciding the outcome. Still, he’s hardly been silent about his personal preference. At key moments, Obama has offered high praise and needed defence for his former rival-turned-adviser, and little comparable support for Sanders.

The White House and the Clinton backers are hoping the moment will serve as something of a reset button, ending the surprisingly long and contentious primary and refocusing Democrats on the history in the making — Clinton would be the first female, major party nominee — and the job of defeating Trump.

It remains unclear whether Sanders and his backers are ready for reset. Although the Vermont senator is looking at an insurmountable delegate deficit, he’s not said he’ll go quietly. Meanwhile, many of his supporters have expressed a deep distrust in the Democratic primary process — particularly the influence of party leaders.

Sanders backers say that process is rigged, but White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Monday suggested the president had no qualms about the math.

“Certainly somebody who claims a majority of the pledged and superdelegates has a strong case to make,” Earnest said, adding that once voters weigh in on Tuesday, “we may be in a position where we have much greater sense of what the outcome is likely to be.”

Obama has strong reasons to want to be seen as a uniter rather than an anointer. Among his political tasks on the campaign trail will be bringing along the young, progressive voters who have been a key part of his base but have lined up behind Sanders this year. The president has wanted to retain his goodwill with those voters, as well as other parts of his loyal coalition that have helped boost his approval rating in recent months.

White House officials say the president is planning to be a steady and active player on the campaign trail, particularly in the fall. Unlike recent sitting presidents, Obama remains popular enough to be welcome in both swing states and Democratic strongholds.