“Today I am standing with Senator Obama to say: Yes we can!”
With those words, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton ended her historic run for the White House and endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. Senator Clinton said everything she needed to say, and more, with her sound endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president Saturday.
While some supporters called for Clinton to form a third party and challenge both Democrats and Republicans for the White House, there’s no indication that Mrs. Clinton took any of these ideas seriously.
Instead, Mrs. Clinton graciously thanked her supporters, strongly urging them to support Obama’s candidacy.
To all those who voted for me, and to whom I pledged my utmost, my commitment to you and to the progress we seek is unyielding. You have inspired and touched me with the stories of the joys and sorrows that make up the fabric of our lives and you have humbled me with your commitment to our country.
Some have said Hillary dallied too long on her campaign, that she should have spent more time talking about Barack.
But those words ring hollow. Her supporters stood by her even as she spoke Saturday, and this was their time as much as it was hers.
This has been an extraordinary primary campaign season. For the first time in the history of the United States, a woman and a black man stood as the front-runners overall in the primaries. Both Clinton and Obama top John McCain in national polls throughout the primary campaigns. Senator Clinton stood strong until she decided that it was time to suspend this campaign, and endorse another.
I would caution Democrats who might resent Hillary staying in the campaign as long as she did. Some, I know, have become angry that she didn’t “get it” like they thought she should and bow out, leave the once crowded stage so Barack could concentrate on November.
But I disagree.
What she did, in fact, was extraordinary, and we owe her our gratitude. Senator Clinton fought. This was not ego — this was history in the making.
Hillary did not “get her groove back” by endorsing Senator Obama.
The Senator from New York had it all along.