Clinton ends bid, backs Obama
New York Senator Hillary Clinton said she will end a race that brought her closer than any woman in history to the US presidency and in two days announce her endorsement of Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
By Bloomberg |
WASHINGTON: New York Senator Hillary Clinton said she will end a race that brought her closer than any woman in history to the US presidency and in two days announce her endorsement of Illinois Senator Barack Obama.
���I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party���s nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise,��� Ms Clinton, 60, said in an e-mail to supporters early this morning.
The announcement came two days after Mr Obama, 46, clinched the nomination by amassing the required number of delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August. Ms Clinton said she will help ���rally the party������ behind Mr Obama in his campaign against presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.
���The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise,��� Ms Clinton said. Mr Obama was asked about Ms Clinton���s withdrawal while attending a $28,500-a-plate fundraiser in New York on Wednesday night.
���Truth is, I haven���t had time to think about it,��� he said outside the event at 820 Park Avenue in Manhattan. ���This weekend, I���m going home, talk it over with Michelle and we���re going on a date,��� he said, referring to his wife.
���Interfamily Squabble��� Inside the event, held at the apartment of Jane Hartley and Ralph Schlosstein, co-founder of the asset manager BlackRock, Mr Obama told about 100 guests that ���now that the interfamily squabble is done,������ Democrats could ���focus on what needs to be done in November.������
Mr Obama overcame the many advantages Ms Clinton had when she entered the race in January 2007. She had one of the best-known names in Democratic politics because of the popularity of her husband, former president Bill Clinton, as well as a deep well of fundraisers and supporters throughout the country.
Mr Obama racked up victories in caucus states by energising hundreds of volunteer activists. Ms Clinton hardly contested many of the caucus states and as a result fell well behind in the delegate count.
Vice President? Clinton���s strengths in parts of the Democratic electorate have led many supporters to push for a joint ticket. Robert Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and a longtime Clinton backer, this week sent a letter to House Majority Whip James Clyburn asking him to urge the Congressional Black Caucus to push Obama to pick Clinton as a running mate.
���Why take a risk,������ Johnson said in an interview on Thursday.
The announcement came two days after Mr Obama, 46, clinched the nomination by amassing the required number of delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August. Ms Clinton said she will help ���rally the party������ behind Mr Obama in his campaign against presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.
���The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise,��� Ms Clinton said. Mr Obama was asked about Ms Clinton���s withdrawal while attending a $28,500-a-plate fundraiser in New York on Wednesday night.
���Truth is, I haven���t had time to think about it,��� he said outside the event at 820 Park Avenue in Manhattan. ���This weekend, I���m going home, talk it over with Michelle and we���re going on a date,��� he said, referring to his wife.
���Interfamily Squabble��� Inside the event, held at the apartment of Jane Hartley and Ralph Schlosstein, co-founder of the asset manager BlackRock, Mr Obama told about 100 guests that ���now that the interfamily squabble is done,������ Democrats could ���focus on what needs to be done in November.������
Mr Obama overcame the many advantages Ms Clinton had when she entered the race in January 2007. She had one of the best-known names in Democratic politics because of the popularity of her husband, former president Bill Clinton, as well as a deep well of fundraisers and supporters throughout the country.
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Mr Obama racked up victories in caucus states by energising hundreds of volunteer activists. Ms Clinton hardly contested many of the caucus states and as a result fell well behind in the delegate count.
Vice President? Clinton���s strengths in parts of the Democratic electorate have led many supporters to push for a joint ticket. Robert Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television and a longtime Clinton backer, this week sent a letter to House Majority Whip James Clyburn asking him to urge the Congressional Black Caucus to push Obama to pick Clinton as a running mate.
���Why take a risk,������ Johnson said in an interview on Thursday.
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