http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/07/clinton-set-to-end-historic-bid-for-the-white-house/Standing before a throng of supporters with American flags as her backdrop, Hillary Clinton did something Saturday that 17 months ago seemed unthinkable she conceded defeat.
The former first lady, who as recently as Tuesday declared herself the strongest candidate, gave former rival Barack Obama an unqualified endorsement and pivoted from her role as determined foe to absolute ally. She suspended her historic bid for the White House, settling the dust following a grueling 17-month campaign.
Clinton repeatedly called on her supporters to unite behind the Illinois senator, casting the general election as a critical opportunity to shift course after seven years with a Republican president. She acknowledged the hard-fought and sometimes-bitter Democratic primary battle, but assured her voters that Obama has proved himself to the country.
Ive had a front-row seat to his candidacy, and I have seen his strength and determination, his grace and his grit, she said.
We all know this has been a tough fight, but the Democratic Party is a family & we may have started on separate journeys but today our paths have merged, and were all heading toward the same destination.
Clinton kicked off her concession by directly thanking supporters who poured their heart and hopes into her campaign.
Well this isnt exactly the party Id planned, but I sure like the company, Clinton said at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea by her side.
Within minutes she announced that she was bowing out of the race.
The way to continue our fight now & is to take our energy, our passion, our strength and do all that we can to help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States, she said to cheering supporters. 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.
Obama later issued a statement saying he is thrilled and honored to have Clintons support.
But more than that, I honor 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 & Our party and our country are stronger because of the work she has done throughout her life, and Im 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.
Clinton was under pressure to send a strong signal to the 18 million voters who supported her in the marathon 50-state primary that its time to unite behind the presumptive nominee.
Obama secured the 2,118 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday after primaries in South Dakota and Montana. He planned to spend the weekend at home in Chicago.
Clinton on Tuesday gave little indication she was ready to bow out of the race. She congratulated Obama for running an extraordinary race but did not acknowledge at the time his delegate majority.
But on Saturday she paused to urge the audience to appreciate the historic nature of the race itself, which pitted the first serious female candidate for president against the most viable black candidate.
Together, Senator Obama and I achieved milestones, she said.
She said that even though her campaign was not successful, she paved the way for a woman to some day win the White House.
Though we werent able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling, its got about 18 million cracks in it, she said. The path will be a little easier next time.
Clinton began the race as the undisputed front-runner in January 2007. But she saw her march to the nomination derailed a year later after being swamped by Obama in Iowas lead-off caucuses.
The last major candidate of the 2008 primary campaign to fall, Clinton persevered by staying defiant when her back was against the wall.
In the critical contests she had to win to stay in the race, she won. She had a strong showing in the March 4 primaries, and then pulled off a victory in Pennsylvania April 22. The victories were used to raise doubts about Obamas chances against presumptive GOP nominee John McCain, even as his delegate lead over Clinton stayed imposing.
Left on the table is whether Clinton will be considered as Obamas vice presidential pick.
The two had a face-to-face meeting Thursday evening at the Washington home of a Senate colleague, California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, where they discussed the campaign to come. They spoke alone for about an hour. Both were laughing when they finished.
Clinton was expected to campaign for Obama and to 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.
Following the speech Saturday, she made her way through the crowd of supporters, shaking hands and signing autographs, telling one supporter, Dont worry, Ill be back.
Also unanswered is how passionately Clintons supporters will file in behind Obama. Clinton was met with ear-splitting cheers when he began her address, but the crowd response became progressively more tepid as she spoke about driving Obama to victory in November.
Polls show the general election race against presumptive GOP nominee John McCain is still tight. The latest national Gallup tracking poll shows Obama leading McCain by just 1 point.
Clinton spent much of Friday working on her concession speech with campaign manager Maggie Williams, media adviser Mandy Grunwald and strategist Mark Penn.
By suspending her campaign, Clinton would retain nominal control of her delegates and could continue to raise money to pay off campaign debts.
A party at her Washington home on Friday was intended as a way to thank and bid farewell to campaign staff.
YEEEHAW!
Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of the Clinton dynasty.
