Clinton expected to endorse Obama for president 05/06/2008 - 07:56:05
Hillary Clinton is ending her historic bid to become the first female president and will back rival Barack Obama on Saturday, capping a 17-month quest that began with the words “I’m in it to win it” with a more humble plea for party unity.
Hours after Mr Obama sealed the nomination, Democrats coalesced around his candidacy, sending a strong signal to Mrs Clinton that it was time to bow out.
The former first lady told House Democrats during a private conference call today that she will express support for Mr Obama’s candidacy and congratulate him for gathering the necessary delegates to be the party’s nominee.
“Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington DC, to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity. This event will be held on Saturday to accommodate more of Senator Clinton’s supporters who want to attend,” her communications director Howard Wolfson said.
Also in the speech, Mrs Clinton will urge once-warring Democrats to focus on the general election and defeating Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
The only degree of uncertainty was how. Mrs Clinton is exploring options to retain her delegates and promote her issues, including a signature call for universal health care.
The announcement closed an epic five-month nominating battle pitting the first serious female candidate against the most viable black contender ever.
Mr Obama yesterday secured the 2,118 delegates to claim the Democratic nomination, but Mrs Clinton stopped short of acknowledging that milestone. Instead, she was defiant, insisting she was better positioned than Mr Obama to defeat Mr McCain in November.
“What does Hillary want? What does she want?” Clinton said, hours after telling supporters she’d be open to joining Mr Obama as his vice-presidential running mate.
However, by today, other Democrats made it abundantly clear they wanted something, too: a swift end to the nominating contest.
Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean and the Democratic congressional leadership released a statement urging the party to rally behind Mr Obama, and several congressmen and women all endorsed their Illinois colleague.
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Hillary Clinton is ending her historic bid to become the first female president and will back rival Barack Obama on Saturday, capping a 17-month quest that began with the words “I’m in it to win it” with a more humble plea for party unity.
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