Hillary suspends historic campaign, endorses Obama
Hillary Rodham Clinton ended her historic campaign for the presidency yesterday and told supporters to unite behind rival Barack Obama, closing out a race that was as gruelling as it was groundbreaking.
The former first lady, who as recently as Tuesday declared herself the strongest candidate, gave Obama an unqualified endorsement and pivoted from her role as determined foe to absolute ally.
"The way to continue our fight now to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passion, our strength and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States," Hillary said in a speech before cheering supporters packed into the ornate National Building Museum, not far from the White House she longed to govern from.
"Today as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him and I ask of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me," the New York senator said in her 28-minute address.
With that and 13 other mentions of his name, Hillary placed herself solidly behind her Senate colleague from Illinois, a political sensation and the first black to secure a presidential nomination.
Obama, in a statement, declared himself "thrilled and honoured" to have Hillary's support.
“I honour her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run," he said. "She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans."
For Hillary and her supporters, it was a poignant moment, the end of an extraordinary run that began with an air of inevitability and certain victory. About 18 million people voted for her; it was the closest a woman has come to capturing a nomination.
"Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it has about 18 million cracks in it and the light is shining through like never before," she said.
Indeed, her speech repeatedly returned to the milestone her candidacy represented for women. In primary after primary, her support among women was a solid bloc of her voting coalition. She noted that she had received the support of women who were 80 and 90 years old, born before women could even vote.
She acknowledged the unprecedented success of Obama's candidacy, as well.
"Children today will grow up taking for granted that an African-American or a woman can, yes, become the president of the United States," she said.
Obama secured the 2,118 delegates needed to clinch the nomination Tuesday after primaries in South Dakota and Montana. He planned to spend the weekend at home in Chicago.
Joining Hillary on stage were her husband, the former president, and their daughter, Chelsea, to loud cheers from the crowd. When she spoke, they stepped away.
In deciding to suspend her campaign, Hillary kept some options open. She gets to retain her delegates to the nominating convention this summer and she can continue to raise money. It also means she could reopen her campaign if circumstances change before the Denver convention, but gave no indication that was her intention.
As soon as Hillary finished speaking, some of the nearly 300 Democratic party leaders and elected officials across the country who had pledged their support to her as super delegates released statements announcing they now back Obama. The switchers included some of Hillary's most high-profile supporters, including Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski and Maine Governor John Baldacci.
Hillary supporters began lining up at dawn to attend the farewell address. A smattering of Obama backers showed up as well, saying they did so as a gesture of party unity.
Hillary seemed almost buoyant in her address, feeding off the energy of a loud and appreciative crowd.
"Well, this isn't exactly the party I planned but I sure like the company," she said as she opened her speech.
Meanwhile, Republicans quickly launched a "Clinton vs Obama" page on the Republican National Committee's website drawing attention to her criticism of Obama during the campaign.
As a prelude to yesterday's speech, Obama and Hillary had a face-to-face meeting Thursday evening at the Washington home of a Senate colleague, California Democrat Dianne Feinstein.
Hillary was expected to campaign for Obama and help with fundraising, while seeking his assistance in retiring her $30 million campaign debt. The New York senator has told colleagues she would be interested in joining Obama as his running mate.
The undisputed front-runner when she announced her candidacy in January 2007, Hillary saw her march to the nomination derailed a year later after being swamped by Obama in Iowa's leadoff caucuses. She stayed alive after a narrow victory in New Hampshire five days later. But her campaign never fully regained its footing despite strong showings in several big-state primaries beginning in March.
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