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US elections 2008
Clinton withdraws officially
Article published on the 2008-06-07 Latest update 2008-06-08 08:55 TU
Hillary Clinton
(Photo: Reuters)
Hillary Clinton appealed to her supporters to "help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States", as she officially withdrew from the race to be the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. Declaring that the "Democratic Party is a family", she pledged to fight to back Obama in the forthcoming presidential election. Obama he said that he was "thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support".
"You will always find me on the frontlines," Clinton told cheering supporters in Washington.
Acknowledging that the primary season had seen "a tough fight", she took time to praise her erstwhile rival.
"In his own life Barack Obama has lived the American dream," she said.
She went on to refer to the key issues, ranging from health care to women's rights, which have won her the constituency which her camp claims she can deliver to the Democrats' presidential bid.
"Today I am standing with Senator Obama to say 'yes, we can'," she declared, in reference to Obama's campaign slogan.
"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," Obama said in a statement.
He has refused to commit himself to taking Clinton as his running mate in the election, which would give her the vice-presidency in the event of a Democrat victory.
