Hillary finally quits, urges supporters to back Obama
Source: AFP, 09-06-2008
By: Stephen Collinson
WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton has thrown her full support behind Barack Obama, as she unequivocally endorsed the Democratic White House presumptive nominee.
Clinton's quest ended Saturday with her imploring her backers to vote for Obama, saying he was a man of "grace and grit."
"The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passions, our strengths and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States," Clinton said, basking in the devotion of around 2,000 supporters at a raucous rally.
"Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run," said Clinton, who angered some Democrats with her defiant tone after Obama clinched the nomination last week.
Obama, vying to become the first African-American president in US history, welcomed her endorsement and paid tribute to her "valiant and historic" campaign. "No one knows better than Senator Clinton how desperately America and the American people need change, and I know she will continue to be in the forefront of that battle this fall and for years to come," Obama said in a statement.
Although he did not address whether he would pick Clinton for his vice presidential running mate, Obama said he was "thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support." Obama now faces a tough fight against Republican presumptive nominee John McCain after the turbulent Democratic contest which has torn at party unity.
Clinton gave a ringing endorsement of Obama in a gracious speech, which positioned her as a historic figure who shattered gender barriers. Clinton borrowed Obama's "yes we can!" mantra, and repeatedly told her army of 18 million supporters that they must put her former rival in the White House.
"I have seen his strength and determination and his grace and his grit. In his own life, Barack Obama has lived the American dream," she said, after her endorsement was met with cheers, and some loud but scattered boos.
She went out of her way to persuade her supporters to back Obama. "The Democratic Party is a family, and now it is time to restore the ties that bind us together and to come together around the ideals we share, the values we cherish and the country we love," she said.
Terry O'Neill, a Clinton supporter, said it was now up to Obama to win over the former first lady's supporters.
"She earned my support by her leadership on issues important to me," she said. "I know he is open-minded, he is pro-choice [backs abortion rights] he is a Democrat. Now it is up to him to earn my support."
Clinton's constituency of working-class whites, women and Hispanics could play a key role in sending Obama to the White House, expanding his powerbase of African-Americans, young voters and more affluent Democrats.
After an often bitter campaign, the New York senator began to build bridges with Obama in a secret meeting with him on Thursday night, which fanned more speculation about her vice presidential prospects.
Clinton's speech was the final act in a near 17-month odyssey. The former first lady, 60 led national polls by huge margins last year, but her campaign was stunned by her loss in the leadoff Iowa caucuses on January 3 and although she bounced back to win new Hampshire, the loss of her "inevitable" image was permanent - and she never recovered.
By: Stephen Collinson
WASHINGTON: Hillary Clinton has thrown her full support behind Barack Obama, as she unequivocally endorsed the Democratic White House presumptive nominee.
Clinton's quest ended Saturday with her imploring her backers to vote for Obama, saying he was a man of "grace and grit."
"The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passions, our strengths and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States," Clinton said, basking in the devotion of around 2,000 supporters at a raucous rally.
"Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run," said Clinton, who angered some Democrats with her defiant tone after Obama clinched the nomination last week.
Obama, vying to become the first African-American president in US history, welcomed her endorsement and paid tribute to her "valiant and historic" campaign. "No one knows better than Senator Clinton how desperately America and the American people need change, and I know she will continue to be in the forefront of that battle this fall and for years to come," Obama said in a statement.
Although he did not address whether he would pick Clinton for his vice presidential running mate, Obama said he was "thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support." Obama now faces a tough fight against Republican presumptive nominee John McCain after the turbulent Democratic contest which has torn at party unity.
Clinton gave a ringing endorsement of Obama in a gracious speech, which positioned her as a historic figure who shattered gender barriers. Clinton borrowed Obama's "yes we can!" mantra, and repeatedly told her army of 18 million supporters that they must put her former rival in the White House.
"I have seen his strength and determination and his grace and his grit. In his own life, Barack Obama has lived the American dream," she said, after her endorsement was met with cheers, and some loud but scattered boos.
She went out of her way to persuade her supporters to back Obama. "The Democratic Party is a family, and now it is time to restore the ties that bind us together and to come together around the ideals we share, the values we cherish and the country we love," she said.
Terry O'Neill, a Clinton supporter, said it was now up to Obama to win over the former first lady's supporters.
"She earned my support by her leadership on issues important to me," she said. "I know he is open-minded, he is pro-choice [backs abortion rights] he is a Democrat. Now it is up to him to earn my support."
Clinton's constituency of working-class whites, women and Hispanics could play a key role in sending Obama to the White House, expanding his powerbase of African-Americans, young voters and more affluent Democrats.
After an often bitter campaign, the New York senator began to build bridges with Obama in a secret meeting with him on Thursday night, which fanned more speculation about her vice presidential prospects.
Clinton's speech was the final act in a near 17-month odyssey. The former first lady, 60 led national polls by huge margins last year, but her campaign was stunned by her loss in the leadoff Iowa caucuses on January 3 and although she bounced back to win new Hampshire, the loss of her "inevitable" image was permanent - and she never recovered.
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