Hillary Clinton has just ended her bid for the White House within walking distance of the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue residence she's fought the past 17 months to call home again.
Previewing the contents of the speech to supporters this week, Clinton said, "I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party's nominee and I intend to deliver on that promise."
The promise was just delivered on in a speech at the National Building Museum in DC. Supported by Bill, Chelsea, legions of fans, and those parents who watched her campaign saying to their kids, "see? You can be anything you want to be." Clinton detailed the fruits of her remarkable campaign, and then extended her support to her former rival, saying:
Today as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him. I ask all of you to work as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me. . . ensuring that Barack Obama walks through the doors of the Oval Office on January, 20, 2009!
Following up that strong endorsement saying:
We cannot let this moment slip away. We have come too far and accomplished too much. . . today I am standing with Senator Obama to say, 'yes, we can!'
It's been a long fight, one that ends today not without emotion. Clinton may not be the only person nursing bruises from ending her quest — supporters will have to decide if they can now endorse Obama as wholeheartedly as Clinton did this morning. To see how hard this might be, and what's next for everyone, read more.
The psychiatry correspondent for FOX News said this individual healing process can't be rushed, and supporters will have to warm up to Obama slowly. "Pretending Clinton support translates in a wholesale way to Obama needlessly inserts falsehood into a movement that all of us, regardless of our politics, would have to admit is fueled by passion."
Passion and bucks. Now that the end is here, Hillary and Obama are apparently in deep negotiation as to how to retire the $30 million campaign debt Hillary's dug — with the bonus to Obama that she'll in turn fund raise for his campaign. Advisers think she could bring in $100 million for his general fight.
When Hillary and Obama had their secret meeting Thursday evening at Senator Feinstein's home, they spoke for an hour and seemed to salve some of the campaign wounds. How long will it take for supporters and the party to follow? Will the Democrats find a way to unite, Unity Ticket or not?
Mulberry
Marni
L.a.p.a.
Hello?
1New thread! Yay.
2Just cleaning this thread before everyone arrives. Sit down. Have a seat.
3I'm here Rac. This is one of the best speeches I've ever heard her give.
4Is it just me, or is Bill looking pinker and pinker every time they show him?
5"When you stumble get right back up, and don't listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on." I want to know who wrote this speech. "18 million cracks" in the glass ceiling--it's incredible.
6There it is....her intention to run again in 2012.
7Rac... you crack me up.
8She had 16 months to write it. I think I'm falling a little bit in love with her. Again.
9WOW. And people say she's not inspiring.
10She seems pretty sincere.
11Do you guys think Obama will get a bump from this?
12you know i really hope she keeps working towards her goals, just because she isnt going to be president doesnt mean she cannot fight for what she truly believes in.
13GOOD FOR YOU HILLARY!
14Here's the thing I think she won from this campaign--I think she erased a lot of those people who just hated her for scant reasoning. She's introduced herself to us as a human and leader, not a senator or a first lady--she's Hillary, and today, just really remarkable.
15Jimmy says: "God knows I am."
JIMMY GET OUT. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!
16She will flutter...she will never give up. You know that.
17She is a very important to the Democratic party.
harmony-even when i was irritated by her, i was always inspired by her. she is a fighter, always has been always will be.
18I totally agree, Citizen. She's not just the first First Lady to embrace the pantsuit to the average Joe anymore. She's shown everyone her personality.
19I hope he has the good sense to pick her for VP.
20I am so proud right now.
21citizen-this is the hillary i have always liked, the human being, not the fist fighting, hair pulling scrapping politico hillary
22She did it. I'm just amazed. Best speech of the campaign to date.
23I'd be a lot more proud if Obama were giving this speech. Seriously, the next time I see Jilli and Stephley ....
24whats the difference between "suspending" and "ending" her campaign
25I hope she goes and gets her toes done with a tumbler of Chardonnay this afternoon. I'd prescribe that if I was her doc, for sure.
26Thus ends an era.
27That was simply AMAZING. I can't decide if I'm heartbroken or extremely happy.
28So sad that the best speech of the campaign was her last speech!
29flutterpie, word on the street that "suspending" means she's not officially releasing her delegates? I'm going to find a link now...
30ya im a little teary eyed
31thanks citizen!
32OK, it apparently depends on the party, but when Edwards "suspended", saying that word meant he got to keep his 26 delegates.
"A top Democratic Party official told Dome this afternoon that candidates who withdraw from the race at this point lose some of their delegates to the national convention, while those who suspend keep them."
33Hey... not necessarily over for Hills... she could run again!! Don't count her out.
34I think they are used as bargaining chips.
Hillary for 2012!
35Sorry I'm really pumped up by that speech.
36And this:
"Clinton plans to suspend her campaign within days, her campaign said. By suspending instead of dropping out, Clinton would technically remain a candidate, entitled to keep statewide pledged delegates and district-level delegates"
Plus it means she can keep fund raising through HillaryClinton.com to pay down her debt?
37interesting, i wonder if she is going to lean on some superdelegates before the convention
38I'm oddly compelled to go donate to her campaign now. . .
39Citizen... she does have $30Mil in debt to herself to pay back... I bet she'd appreciate it!
40I love that we heard her talk about things that she hasn't really talked about in the campaign. I personally wish that gender equality had been one of her bigger platforms. I understand why it wasn't but the glass ceiling part of that speech was amazing. I am thoroughly inspired.
41I hope all the nay-sayers who said that she wasn't really going to endorse him will be silenced now.
42I think it was an amazing speech. She sounded very sincere, and I think the little moments were more powerful than any of the "big" moments she has ever had. I think she made a really great case for uniting for what is at stake, and I don't think she could have gone out on a better note.
I think she is suspending so that she can get rid of her debt. Even with suspension, if she doesn't get rid of it by the convention, it is gone forever. It becomes a "donation".
Political Gossip!!! Supposedly, a pundit said that Obama's very large donors that are tapped out of the amount of money they can pay into the Obama campaign will donate to the Clinton campaign to help her with her debt...and it doesn't come from Obama's "little" donors.
43People call Obama a "rock star", but in my opinion, the democrats are like a rock band. You have so many people that have really developed followings: Richardson, Edwards, Clinton, Bill Clinton, Webb, Wesley Clarke...there are just so many of them that appeal to the different demographics and concerns of different types of Americans. Working together, they have the potential to seriously shake things up. We have powerful individuals, but as a sort of Justice League, they will be so much more powerful.
Go Team Blue!!!!!!!!
44Is she still a maybe for VP?
45"I'd be a lot more proud if Obama were giving this speech. Seriously, the next time I see Jilli and Stephley ...."
You got something to say to me Raci?
On MSNBC, Russert said suspending is all about being able to pay off her campaign debt - that if the campaign doesn't pay her millions back to her by a certain date, the money becomes a contribution and she can't get it back.
46She's on Obama's short list.
47i agree jillness the dems are all a bunch rock stars complete with groupie followings
48Someone was speculating that she could be appointed to the Supreme Court. I don't know if there is any truth to that at all, or if it could even happen, but I think that would be a more powerful job than VP.
I think that if she got VP, it would under utilize her skills. The VP has to support the President, and Hillary is too strong to just stand there and nod. In a way, I think a lot of her supporters want her for VP because they don't know how many other positions could be more powerful. Maybe on cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services? Wasn't there rumor of a poverty focused cabinet position? There are so many options.
49I agree Jill. I think that a lot of her supporters think it's a slight on her if she is anything but the VP because they don't really understand that the VP doesn't get to do much. I think that if she wants it it's hers. BUT I don't think she wants it. I think she'll want something where she can make a bigger difference and has more control. AND of course she wants the option of running against him in 4 years. LOL
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