United States

Clinton backtracks on Kennedy comments

by Hannah Lippitt

Article published on the 2008-05-24 Latest update 2008-05-24 15:47 TU

Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton
(Photo : Reuters)

Democrat Hillary Clinton has apologised over comments made about the assasination of Senator Robert Kennedy. The US presidential candidate used the 1968 assassination to justify prolonging her White House bid.

Speaking to a newspaper board in South Dakota, Clinton appeared to reference the Kennedy killing at the end of the presidential race 20 years ago, to show that previous Democratic contests have lasted into June.

"My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary, somewhere in the middle of June, right?" Clinton said in an interview with the Argus Leader newspaper editorial board.

"We all remember, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California, I don't understand it," Clinton said.

Clinton quickly backtracked over the remark after an avalanche of press criticism, saying the Kennedys had been in her thoughts after Senator Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with brain cancer this week.

The topic is sensitive for supporters of rival Barack Obama, who accepted Secret Service protection last year long before it is usually offered to most presidential candidates, because of unspecified threats.

Meanwhile, Obama picked up endorsements of three more top party officials or superdelegates on Friday. Obama is now just 61 delegates short of the winning post of 2,026 delegates.

On the republican side, candidate John McCain is trying to distance himself from evangelical pastor John Hagee, who once said Hitler was carrying out "God's will" in chasing Jews from Europe.