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Clinton Urges Supporters To Shift Loyalty To Obama

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The Washington Post

Published: June 8, 2008

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the most successful female presidential candidate in U.S. history, officially ended her campaign Saturday with a forceful promise to help elect Sen. Barack Obama - and the declaration that, even though she had failed to "shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling," a gender barrier had been crossed.

Four days after Obama secured the delegates to win the Democratic nomination, Clinton gave him her unqualified endorsement, finally putting to rest questions about whether she would help unite the party for the general election. In generous and, at times, soaring terms, Clinton described her cause as united with Obama's, saying that electing him would achieve the goals of universal health care, a strong economy and the end of the war in Iraq.

"We may have started on separate journeys, but today our paths have merged," Clinton said.

Clinton, who began her candidacy as the overwhelming favorite to win her party's nomination, discouraged rehashing the long and divisive Democratic primary campaign, instead asking her supporters - some of whom, still resentful, booed when she mentioned her former rival during the speech - to "take our energy, our passion, our strength, and to do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States."

"When you hear people saying, or think to yourself, 'if only' or 'what if,' I say - please don't go there," Clinton said. "Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward."

She continued: "Life is too short, time is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been. We have to work together for what still can be. And that is why I will work my heart out to make sure that Senator Obama is our next president, and I hope and pray that all of you will join me in that effort."

It was a final, emotional end of a year-and-a-half-long effort in which Clinton won more than 17 million votes and dozens of primary contests.

Clinton was met with a deafening roar the moment she entered the atrium at the National Building Museum, where thousands of supporters gathered. "Well, this isn't exactly the party I planned," she began, smiling broadly. With her were her daughter, Chelsea; her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and her mother, Dorothy Rodham.

The crowd's undiminished enthusiasm was an indication of the challenges facing Obama.

But Clinton expressed no ambivalence about ending her bid and turning her attention to the fall campaign. Although she did not mention Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, by name, she repeatedly encouraged her supporters to remember why they had worked for her and why Obama would fulfill those same goals. She said nearly a dozen times that it is imperative to "help elect Barack Obama our president."

And in one of her most passionate descriptions of social progress, Clinton characterized both Obama's success and her own as the result of historic struggles that must continue.

"And although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it," she said.

Next Women Will Have It Easier

Clinton, 60, said that her own journey will make it easier for other women in the future. "You can be so proud that, from now on, it will be unremarkable for a woman to win primary state victories, unremarkable to have a woman in a close race to be our nominee, unremarkable to think that a woman can be the president of the United States," she said. "And that is truly remarkable, my friends."

She continued: "To those who are disappointed that we couldn't go all the way ... it would break my heart if, in falling short of my goal, I in any way discouraged any of you from pursuing yours. Always aim high, work hard and care deeply about what you believe in."

Obama: 'She Shattered Barriers'

It was, in essence, a description of the Clinton credo, a summary of the path she has followed over the course of a career as lawyer, first lady and U.S. senator. Her hard work had earned her a political role in her own right, after eight years in the White House with her husband; her characteristic resilience had carried her through personal crises again and again.

After Clinton's speech, Obama issued a statement thanking her and praising her "valiant and historic campaign."

"She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams," he said. "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."

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