lily
06-05-2008, 12:54 AM
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/ap/87ffb164-0930-4190-986f-918b40ae9124.h2.jpg
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24974674/
NYT: Clinton likely to suspend bid on Friday
The former first lady will also reportedly endorse rival Barack Obama
updated 4 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is moving to suspend her campaign
and endorse Senator Barack Obama on Friday after Democratic members of
Congress urged her on Wednesday to leave the race and allow the party to
unite around Mr. Obama, according to a senior adviser to Mrs. Clinton.
Mrs. Clinton is likely to make the announcement in New York City, an aide
said, although no final venue has been chosen.
Her decision came after a day of telephone conversations with supporters on
Capital Hill about what she should do now that Mr. Obama has claimed enough
delegates to secure the nomination. Mrs. Clinton had initially said she
wanted to wait before making any decision, but her aides said that in
conversations, some of her closest supporters said it was urgent that she
step aside.
'To the end'
“We pledged to support her to the end,” said Representative Charles W.
Rangel, a New York Democrat who has been a patron of Mrs. Clinton since she
first ran for the Senate. “Our problem is not being able to determine when
the hell the end is.”
At the same time, some of Mrs. Clinton’s most prominent supporters —
including Democrats who had held back their endorsements until the primaries
were over announced they were now backing Mr. Obama.
“I was for Hillary — I wasn’t against Obama, who I think is very talented,”
said Walter F. Mondale, the former vice president. “I’m glad we made a
decision and I hope we can unite our party and move forward.”
Earlier Wednesday, a group of top Democratic leaders asked all of the party’s
uncommitted superdelegates, the officials and party leaders who get
automatic convention seats, to make their preferences known by Friday.
While the group of leaders — including the chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, Howard Dean; the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; the
Senate majority leader, Harry Reid; and Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia —
did not formally endorse Mr. Obama or urge Mrs. Clinton to exit the race,
they said in a joint statement: “Democrats must now turn our full attention
to the general election.”
Facing a fall campaign against Senator John McCain, the presumptive
Republican nominee, these Democratic leaders stressed that the party needed
to “stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of
failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country.”
Other party leaders began to coalesce behind Mr. Obama, including
Representative Rahm Emanuel, of Illinois, a former aide in the Clinton White
House but also a close friend of Mr. Obama.
'He is the nominee'
“Look, I’ve known him for years, and I said that as the election came to an
end, I would make my endorsement, come from underneath the desk — and I did
that,” Mr. Emanuel said. “The fact is, he is the nominee.”
Some of Mrs. Clinton’s supporters urged Mr. Obama to take the senator on as
his running mate.
Robert L. Johnson, a prominent Clinton backer and the founder of Black
Entertainment Television, said Wednesday on the CNN program “American
Morning” that he planned to enlist members of the Congressional Black Caucus
to push Mr. Obama to accept Mrs. Clinton as his vice presidential nominee.
He said Mrs. Clinton had not directed his efforts, but was aware of them.
Lanny Davis, who was an aide in the Clinton White House, said he was
circulating a petition asking Mr. Obama to pick Mrs. Clinton as his running
mate. Mr. Davis said he was acting on his own.
On a conference call with members of the New York Congressional delegation
on Tuesday, Mrs. Clinton was asked whether she would be open to joining a
ticket headed by Mr. Obama. She replied, according to some who were on the
call, that if he offered the vice presidential nod, she would accept, and
would do whatever she could to help Democrats win the White House.
Terry McAuliffe, the Clinton campaign chairman, however, insisted Wednesday
on CNN that there had been “absolutely zero discussions” about whether she
would accept a vice presidential nomination. Mr. McAuliffe said that Mrs.
Clinton, whose speech on Tuesday night in New York was more defiant than
conciliatory, wanted to talk things over with her supporters on Wednesday.
Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton spoke by telephone just after midnight on
Wednesday. He congratulated her and renewed his offer to “sit down when it
makes sense for you,” according to a spokesman for Mr. Obama, Robert Gibbs.
Mrs. Clinton responded positively, Mr. Gibbs said, but he added there were
no immediate plans to meet.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24974674/
NYT: Clinton likely to suspend bid on Friday
The former first lady will also reportedly endorse rival Barack Obama
updated 4 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is moving to suspend her campaign
and endorse Senator Barack Obama on Friday after Democratic members of
Congress urged her on Wednesday to leave the race and allow the party to
unite around Mr. Obama, according to a senior adviser to Mrs. Clinton.
Mrs. Clinton is likely to make the announcement in New York City, an aide
said, although no final venue has been chosen.
Her decision came after a day of telephone conversations with supporters on
Capital Hill about what she should do now that Mr. Obama has claimed enough
delegates to secure the nomination. Mrs. Clinton had initially said she
wanted to wait before making any decision, but her aides said that in
conversations, some of her closest supporters said it was urgent that she
step aside.
'To the end'
“We pledged to support her to the end,” said Representative Charles W.
Rangel, a New York Democrat who has been a patron of Mrs. Clinton since she
first ran for the Senate. “Our problem is not being able to determine when
the hell the end is.”
At the same time, some of Mrs. Clinton’s most prominent supporters —
including Democrats who had held back their endorsements until the primaries
were over announced they were now backing Mr. Obama.
“I was for Hillary — I wasn’t against Obama, who I think is very talented,”
said Walter F. Mondale, the former vice president. “I’m glad we made a
decision and I hope we can unite our party and move forward.”
Earlier Wednesday, a group of top Democratic leaders asked all of the party’s
uncommitted superdelegates, the officials and party leaders who get
automatic convention seats, to make their preferences known by Friday.
While the group of leaders — including the chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, Howard Dean; the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi; the
Senate majority leader, Harry Reid; and Gov. Joe Manchin of West Virginia —
did not formally endorse Mr. Obama or urge Mrs. Clinton to exit the race,
they said in a joint statement: “Democrats must now turn our full attention
to the general election.”
Facing a fall campaign against Senator John McCain, the presumptive
Republican nominee, these Democratic leaders stressed that the party needed
to “stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of
failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country.”
Other party leaders began to coalesce behind Mr. Obama, including
Representative Rahm Emanuel, of Illinois, a former aide in the Clinton White
House but also a close friend of Mr. Obama.
'He is the nominee'
“Look, I’ve known him for years, and I said that as the election came to an
end, I would make my endorsement, come from underneath the desk — and I did
that,” Mr. Emanuel said. “The fact is, he is the nominee.”
Some of Mrs. Clinton’s supporters urged Mr. Obama to take the senator on as
his running mate.
Robert L. Johnson, a prominent Clinton backer and the founder of Black
Entertainment Television, said Wednesday on the CNN program “American
Morning” that he planned to enlist members of the Congressional Black Caucus
to push Mr. Obama to accept Mrs. Clinton as his vice presidential nominee.
He said Mrs. Clinton had not directed his efforts, but was aware of them.
Lanny Davis, who was an aide in the Clinton White House, said he was
circulating a petition asking Mr. Obama to pick Mrs. Clinton as his running
mate. Mr. Davis said he was acting on his own.
On a conference call with members of the New York Congressional delegation
on Tuesday, Mrs. Clinton was asked whether she would be open to joining a
ticket headed by Mr. Obama. She replied, according to some who were on the
call, that if he offered the vice presidential nod, she would accept, and
would do whatever she could to help Democrats win the White House.
Terry McAuliffe, the Clinton campaign chairman, however, insisted Wednesday
on CNN that there had been “absolutely zero discussions” about whether she
would accept a vice presidential nomination. Mr. McAuliffe said that Mrs.
Clinton, whose speech on Tuesday night in New York was more defiant than
conciliatory, wanted to talk things over with her supporters on Wednesday.
Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton spoke by telephone just after midnight on
Wednesday. He congratulated her and renewed his offer to “sit down when it
makes sense for you,” according to a spokesman for Mr. Obama, Robert Gibbs.
Mrs. Clinton responded positively, Mr. Gibbs said, but he added there were
no immediate plans to meet.