Adviser says Clinton to support for Obama
Washington—Hillary Rodham Clinton planned to throw support to Democratic rival Barack Obama Friday and call on Democrats to unite against Republican John McCain, her campaign announced Wednesday.
"Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington on Friday to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity," her communications director Howard Wolfson said.
The announcement brought to an end the historic campaign pitting the first serious female candidate against the most viable black contender ever.
Obama secured the delegates Tuesday night to claim the Democratic nomination, but Clinton stopped short of acknowledging that milestone.
Clinton agreed to back Obama during conference call Wednesday with impatient House Democrats who urged her to end the division between the Obama and Clinton camps, said a senior campaign adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity because the candidate has not authorized public discussion of the private conference call with supporters.
The adviser said Clinton will congratulate Obama for having gathered enough delegates to clinch the nomination, a step she planned to take Tuesday but postponed.
Several of the lawmakers on the call said they would be willing to appear at Clinton's side if she were to hold an event supporting Obama. The details of the conversation were described by people familiar with the discussions.
