Clinton Endorses Obama

"The way to continue our fight now is to take our passion our energy our strength and to do all we can to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States."

"Today as i suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has won I endorse him and throw my whole support behind him."

Here's Obama's response:

"Obviously, I am thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support. But more than that, I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run. 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. Our party and our country are stronger because of the work she has done throughout her life, and I'm a better candidate for having had the privilege of competing with her in this 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," said U.S. Senator Barack Obama.

Comments

Most importantly, it is a speech that could not have had the same impact, and not even been given, Tuesday night, making it far more effective as a transition from candidate to supporter.

Posted by hopeless pedant | June 7, 2008 3:04 PM

I guess I'll hesitantly support Obama now... Though I guess if he stiffs her as VP, I'll reconsider McCain.

Posted by anon | June 7, 2008 3:06 PM

A day I thought I'd never see...

Posted by Ben | June 7, 2008 3:09 PM

"concede." "endorse." "work my heart out."

"There are no acceptable prejudices in the 21st century."

She did it. Brilliantly.

Posted by along | June 7, 2008 3:37 PM

That last clause bears remembering for those who thinks this is some kind of definitive torch-passing from the Boomers to Gens X&Y. The Clintons aren't going anywhere, and considering lengthening lifespans, it's more likely that not that more Boomers will run credible presidential campaigns in the future.

Posted by Huntington | June 7, 2008 3:41 PM

It was a very graceful speech and a momment which her supporters can look at gratefully and pivot towards the general election.

She did an amazing job. I didn't really think it would come off this well.

-Rhoda

Posted by Rhoda | June 7, 2008 3:47 PM

This is great news!!!

For Hillary!!!

Posted by Hillary 2012! | June 7, 2008 3:52 PM

Hillary hit all the right notes and at various points was creating the music as well. If she, Edwards, and various others campaign for him with the same credibility we heard here then I think we will take the presidency. You're our only hope Obami wan kenobi.

Posted by edwardian | June 7, 2008 4:07 PM

As an Obama supporter (and a Clinton hater for a good chunk of the primary), I thought it was a great speech.

It hit the perfect balance between the triumph of a historic campaign and a gracious & sincere endorsement.

Posted by John B | June 7, 2008 4:26 PM

Excellent speech. She reminded both my wife and I that she is after all, human. I agree with others - this is not a speech that could have been given on tuesday night.

Posted by Mike | June 7, 2008 5:04 PM

Are we at last rid of that troublesome beast? GOOD RIDDANCE! Let the toxin of CLintonism be flushed from the body politic.

Posted by Miande | June 7, 2008 5:30 PM

Miande: NOT HELPING.

Posted by jkxbjq | June 7, 2008 5:33 PM

Good day for Hillary.

Great day for Democratic Party.

Worst nightmare for McCain.

The McBush is going to have difficult days ahead. This angry old guy joined at the heaps with Bush is going to be a big time looser.

Posted by Nick | June 7, 2008 7:08 PM

Good day for Hillary.

Great day for Democratic Party.

Worst nightmare for McCain.

The McBush is going to have difficult days ahead. This angry old guy joined at the heaps with Bush is going to be a big time looser.

Posted by Nick | June 7, 2008 7:11 PM

I loved Hillary today and will from now on respect and honour her. She done a sterling job. A great women. I can't wait to see her and Obama on the podium in the coming weeks.

Posted by SallyM | June 7, 2008 7:57 PM

Hey Marc,

Any word on why Hillary was so late this morning? Breakfast ran long? Hit snooze too many times? Last second revisions to the speech? It's this kind of down and dirty reporting we expect from our friend Ambers.

Posted by drjimcooper | June 7, 2008 8:19 PM

Hillary went further than I expected in her speech.

It makes me wonder if the Clinton/Obama divide has been exaggerated by the corporate media who wish to help their buddy John McCain.

I also wonder if the meeting the two of them had a couple days ago led Hillary to be so full-throated in her endorsement.

But this was an amazing speech and even if there were things that HIllary did that angered me and many Obama supporters, its hard to deny that she forced Obama to become a better candidate and has battle-tested Obama. In the long-run, this is a good thing, I think.

Wow, what an amazing primary.

Posted by RKA | June 7, 2008 8:38 PM

Hillary delivered a remarkable speech this afternoon, and I honour her for it. I am still not happy with the carryings-on of her campaign Tuesday night, and her being introduced, by Terry, as the next president of the United States, but so much has happened over this protracted campaign, that her speech today has erased the negative feelings I've been harbouring for her over the past coupla months.

So, now it is time to follow Hillary's lead and join hands to help elect the next President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Posted by Michael Fein | June 7, 2008 9:07 PM

Great speech by Senator Clinton today. More on Acropolis Review + full transcript. http://acropolisreview.com/2008/06/video-hillary-clintons-concession.html

Posted by Jean | June 7, 2008 9:18 PM

Well done by Hillary today. However, I'd have to disagree with the idea that she could not have given this speech and gotten the same positive response on Tuesday. If someone has a good reason why I'm wrong, I'd love to hear it. But, I won't belabor the point. It's all water under the bridge...right? Right?

Posted by Jim | June 7, 2008 9:40 PM

Well done by Hillary today. However, I'd have to disagree with the idea that she could not have given this speech and gotten the same positive response on Tuesday. If someone has a good reason why I'm wrong, I'd love to hear it. But, I won't belabor the point. It's all water under the bridge...right? Right?

Posted by Jim | June 7, 2008 9:40 PM

I hope Clinton supporters can get off this Veep talk.

Except among Clinton supporters, it's not electorally beneficial, in fact it would hurt among many people who just don't like the Clintons, or for whom a black AND a woman are just too much change. She doesn't really have the foreign policy experience I think he needs on the ticket (economic points should be in the bag for the Democrats). And I don't think she honestly respects him - she doesn't really buy into his vision and still thinks she'd be better for the job - which you can't have in a Veep.

More importantly, aside from Cheney, the Vice Presidency is a pretty toothless position that doesn't carry any real power. And you can be sure that Obama would never permit his VP to have Cheney-like influence and power. In terms of furthering her goals and being influential in Washington, Clinton would be better off remaining in the Senate.

Posted by TH | June 8, 2008 10:02 AM

I thought her speech was the best she's ever given, although as the campaign wore on I have to admit I had trouble listening to any she gave all the way through, mostly because of all the "I" words.

As the campaign got underway it would have been okay for me with either candidate. As it progressed I saw her campaign as more of a Rep run with what I thought were stoking fires and doing and saying anything to win regardless of truth. Maybe that's the game but I don't have the strength to ride the roller coaster on the Dem side. There's a lot out there for JMc to use against us now.

But, HRC did begin to heal the divide with her speech and hopefully everyone will get behind Obama. After all, a week in the political world can seem like a lifetime. We have 5 months.

Posted by clemo | June 8, 2008 10:23 AM

I agree with TH. People need to get past the idea that the Clinton is somehow owed VP slot and that Obama would be "stiffing" her if he picked someone else. Obama needs to pick someone who complements his candidacy, and personally I think that Clinton would undermine it. She may have the best of intentions now, but during the primaries she said some things about Obama's fitness for the Presidency which would haunt the campaign all the way to November. Also, Bill would have to go hide in a cave somewhere, or else he would continue to draw unflattering media attention.

But most importantly, picking Clinton would be harmful because she would energize Republicans and undermine Obama's message of Change.

Posted by Doug | June 8, 2008 11:20 AM

I thought the end of the speech was great. She really gave pause to those looking to jump ship with that close.

Although I have given pretty much everything to Barack's campaign (full donation, canvassing, phone calls, outdoor, blogs, debates at work, harassing Reagan Democrat father in law in Montana), I still am open to HER as a VP. Why? Because change to me is not tossing away the core of the Democratic Party but tossing away an outlaw regime here at home.

Furthermore, I can't see Barack unifying America if he can't unify the party - we at least share fundamental principles as opposed to the hate mongers...

Finally, the fight will be hard. Who else can fight on our side like the Clintons?

Posted by Reginald Avery Wilkins, Ph.D. | June 8, 2008 4:42 PM

Hillary didn't lose anything. She garnered a larger share of the popular vote and was the best Democrat in polling against McCain. Just because the Looney Lefty Contingent of the Democratic Party insinuated themselves into power positions, then used that power to leverage "Big Brown" into the delegate lead, does not mean that Hillary "lost" the primary runoff. The other candidate was APPOINTED, by the media, first of all, then the likes of Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Donna Brazille, etc.

You can win the race, or the match, on merit, but if THE FIX IS IN, if the referees are corrupt and the television, radio, and print journalists covering the game choose to overlook the obvious, you just have to gather up your gear and wait for another shot.

Posted by robert ethan | June 8, 2008 7:27 PM

Robert, your tinfoil hat is slipping. Obama won according to the rules that were agreed upon by all nominees going into the primaries. And then he won even after those rules had been slightly bent as a concession to Hillary's new demands. By all rights, Florida and Michigan should have had no delegates seated at all. That was the initial ruling. And it was one that Clinton agreed with until she belatedly discovered it wasn't to her favor.

Posted by Doug | June 8, 2008 8:25 PM

More Democrats voted for Hillary Clinton in this primary. Simple fact. "The rules" were put in place by the Party bosses in order to handicap her. Everyone and their dog knew that Michigan and Florida were favorable states for Hillary, long before the Loopy Lefties got together over lattes and decided to omit them from the process. If Michigan and Florida were disqualified due to changing their primary dates why not all the other states, including that braindead moonscape of Iowa, where Obama got his start?

Posted by robert ethan | June 8, 2008 8:36 PM

I don't think it matters much what Hillary says in relation to Obama, to her core supporters. They have a lot more in common with John McCain than The Great Half White Hope. I imagine that close to 50% of Hillary's hard core supporters will vote for McCain in the G.E. if they vote at all. Obama was not chosen as the Dem rep by a fair or reasonable process, nothing can obliterate that fact. For most Clinton supporters John McCain is going to seem the lesser of two evils in the fall.

Posted by robert ethan | June 8, 2008 8:42 PM

Wow. At first I just thought you were crazy and/or deluded. But it looks more likely that you're just a troll. The racist jibes tipped your hand.

Bye. Have fun talking to yourself.

Posted by Doug | June 8, 2008 9:01 PM

Waaaa!!!...Racism...Waaaaa!!!...Waaa!!!!...

You're the typical kneejerk Obama supporter, Slug. In lieu of argument or reason wave the race card.

Hillary got the simple majority in terms of overall votes in this primary, but she got the VAST MAJORITY of votes from registered long term Democrats. All of those "Independants" and Republicans who voted for Obama in the primaries are not going to be around for the General. Take them away, and what is left of his demographic? A few drug addled retro 60s uber liberals and the blacks.

The loony left and the blacks were always going to vote Dem in any event. But those on the fence, in the swing states, were solidly in Hillary's corner and will remain so. They will feel no obligation to vote for a candidate who was appointed by the party bosses and comes from the corrupt, anti white background of Rezko, Wright, and the South Side of Chicago.

John McCain is closer to their age, their attitude, and better represents the values they hold dear. Plain and simple. "Big Brown" will finish a disappointing last in the biggest race of his life.

Posted by robert ethan | June 9, 2008 1:50 AM

Waaaa!!!...Racism...Waaaaa!!!...Waaa!!!!...
. . . wave the race card.
"Big Brown"

Oh, we are so sorry for pointing out your racism, racist.

Memo to Robert Ethan: dismissing someone for being overtly racist is not just a "typical kneejerk Obama supporter" response; it is the assumed baseline conduct for every ethical adult. And not just the "loony left," nor "the blacks."

Additional tip: If you don't want to have "the race card" played against you in a political argument, stop being, you know, racist.

Great. Now I'm wasting my time chastising bigots on Mr. Ambinder's blog. Don't blame me, I voted for "no comments"!

Posted by SGEW | June 9, 2008 8:23 AM