Clinton suspends election campaign

Hillary Rodham Clinton suspended her pioneering campaign for the presidency and pivoted from her role as determined foe to absolute ally, summoning supporters to use "our energy, our passion, our strength" to put Barack Obama in the White House.

"I endorse him and throw my full support behind him," the former first lady said on Saturday, delivering the strong affirmation that her one-time rival and other Democratic leaders hoped to hear after a bruising campaign. Polls show Obama still has considerable work to do to win over Clinton's anguished female backers.

Amid tears from her supporters, Clinton issued a call for unity that emphasized the cultural and political milestones that she and Obama, the first black to secure a presidential nomination, represent.

"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.

In deciding to "suspend" her campaign, Clinton kept some options open. She retains her delegates to the nominating convention and she can continue to raise money. It also means she could reopen her campaign if circumstances change before the Denver convention. But she gave no indication that was her intention.

For Clinton and her backers, 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.

Joining Clinton on stage Saturday were her husband, the former president, and their daughter, Chelsea. When she spoke, they stepped away. Her mother, Dorothy Rodham, wiped away a tear as she watched from nearby.

Obama 'thrilled, honored'

Obama, in a statement from Chicago where he was spending the weekend, declared himself "thrilled and honored" to have Clinton's support.

"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. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans."

Obama secured the 2,118 delegates needed to clinch the nomination last Tuesday. Aides said Obama watched Clinton's speech live on the Internet.

His campaign put a photo of the New York senator on its website and urged supporters to send her a message of thanks.

Likewise, Clinton's website thanked her backers. "Support Senator Obama today," her Web page said. "Sign up now and together we can write the next chapter in America's story."

Running mate?

Clinton has told colleagues she would be interested in joining Obama as his running mate and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, an Obama supporter, said on Saturday that she had made "a powerful case for her eligibility" to be on the ticket.

Many analysts believe an Obama-Clinton ticket is unlikely, in part because of questions about whether the two have enough of a rapport. Clinton would also bring memories of the scandal-plagued years of her husband Bill Clinton's presidency, which might undercut Obama's message of change.

"Politics can turn on a dime, so anything is possible but I'd be shocked if he selected Hillary Clinton," said political scientist Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia.

Plenty of other names are circulating.

Among them are former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, a close adviser to Obama; Virginia Senator Jim Webb, a decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War; New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a Hispanic and former ambassador to the United Nations; Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Obama emphasized he was in no rush. "I am a strong believer in doing this in a careful deliberate way outside of the day-to-day political pressures that inevitably start up during this kind of thing," he said.

Agencies

(China Daily 06/09/2008 page6)