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Clinton thanks supporters, pledges fealty to Obama

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor June 5, 2008 06:12 PM

After facing more than a day of pressure and issuing a terse statement Wednesday night confirming that she will endorse Barack Obama on Saturday, Hillary Clinton and her campaign sent a longer statement to supporters this morning.

The details of the endorsement event are not public yet, and it's still not clear how precisely she will end her historic presidential bid, but Clinton acknowledges Obama as the Democratic nominee and promises to fully support him.

UPDATE: Obama told reporters today that he doesn't plan to be at the Saturday event where Clinton will endorse him.

Instead, he plans to spend the weekend with his family. "We’ve been going at a pretty fast clip. I intend to take the weekend off and I’m going to take my wife out on a date. I hope to go on a bike ride with my kids,” Obama said. “My sense is that at some point this weekend, I will have the opportunity to reflect on the journey we’ve traveled that will help me chart a course for where we’re going to go over the next five months."

Here is Clinton's email to supporters:

Dear Friend,

I wanted you to be one of the first to know: on Saturday, I will hold an event in Washington D.C. to thank everyone who has supported my campaign. Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you.

On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy. This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans.

I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party's nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise.

When I decided to run for president, I knew exactly why I was getting into this race: to work hard every day for the millions of Americans who need a voice in the White House.

I made you -- and everyone who supported me -- a promise: to stand up for our shared values and to never back down. I'm going to keep that promise today, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life.

I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise.

I know as I continue my lifelong work for a stronger America and a better world, I will turn to you for the support, the strength, and the commitment that you have shown me in the past 16 months. And I will always keep faith with the issues and causes that are important to you.

In the past few days, you have shown that support once again with hundreds of thousands of messages to the campaign, and again, I am touched by your thoughtfulness and kindness.

I can never possibly express my gratitude, so let me say simply, thank you.

Sincerely,
Hillary Rodham Clinton


8 comments so far...
  1. I looked at all candidates from both parties there was two I liked, one from each party as I want the best person to run our country no matter what the party affiliation and Hillary Clinton was one of them. As a women I am proud of her historic run for the position of President, 18 million supporters that is not to shabby. I fear her historic run will be over shadowed by our other great American historic event, that of a Afican American leading the race to the oval office. I beg she says no if asked to be VP. She is better then this position and truth be told not even she can get me to vote for Mr. Obama. He was my last pick out of the final three standing. I find myself forced to look at an independent or ouch... Mr. McCain. I fear Mr. Obama has charisma but that is truly the end of his positive attributes. Is America ready for an African American to run our country, In my hear I believe yes for several years, unfortunately just not this man.

    Posted by Annette June 5, 08 10:43 AM
  1. Dear Mrs. Clinton:
    You are an inspiration to all women. You make me proud to be a woman and an American. I have raised two daughters, and struggled through the years to make ends meet. I have always inspired my daughters to do better than myself, which they have. Our little girls, teenage girls and college age young ladies need a role model, someone to aspire to be like, and you delivered. I was cheering for you all through your campaign. I hope that you know, that you will forever be in the hearts and minds of every young girl, teenager and women who look for inspiration, value determination, stamina, intelligence, compassion, fortitute and bravery - and see a photo of you. You would of been a great President, God Bless you, Mrs. Clinton!

    Posted by Elizabeth Fairweather June 5, 08 10:56 AM
  1. Dear Hillary: YOU made me proud to support you. After a slow start, you went on to attract and galvanize supporters of all kinds. But as a woman, I am particularly proud. I feel that I should say that again. As a woman, I am just so proud of You.

    Let us figure out how you can play the most significant role in getting a Democrat elected, and getting this country properly governed -- our infrastructure brought up to modern standards; universal access to health care; our role in the environmental crises one of pre-eminent leadership world-wide; a return to our being admired and emulated in the world through a realistic but sensitive foreign policy; and, most of all, our demonstrating and acting upon our belief in equal status for women, equal rights under law, and equal access to the necessities of life.

    Posted by Rosalind Avnet Lazarus June 5, 08 11:05 AM
  1. Dear Senator Clinton,

    I have been a big fan of yours since the beginning, I was so excited when I first heard you were running for president. I was a supporter of your husband & thought he was one of the best presidents we have ever had. Even when things were rough while he was president I thought people should judge him as "President" & not judge his personnel life.

    You have worked so hard to get where you are today. I hope you will consider to run again in four years. You have set an example to all women that change is needed & we can do anything. I am proud to say I am a Woman & an American.

    I know there were not many differences in you ideas compared to Obama's . I still think you should be the next president. He has the whole future to become president. I know we now must stick together as Democrats. I will vote for him because there is NO way I can put up with another Republican as president. Let alone a clone of Bush.

    I wish you & your family all the best . You now need to take a brief vacation with Bill & Chelsea. You should be very proud that your daughter was with you through this whole process. I have a daughter you is graduating this year from high school. I hope she will become a young lady just like yours.

    God Bless you & your family & God Bless America.

    Thank you Hillary!!!!

    Posted by Donna Esposito June 5, 08 11:49 AM
  1. I really think Hillary can do better, for herself and her party and her country, than VP. And I don't mean as President. For instance, we could use a Senate Majority Leader with a spine, AND a familiarity with impeachment proceedings...

    Posted by stanley June 5, 08 11:52 AM
  1. Dear Hillary,
    The whole world has been watching you. Your inspiration and comitment to causes resonate around the world. Senetor Obama is equally good. Both of you are two of a kind! I only wish we could take both of you! But our systems good and working as it is, cannot allow. I am a guy, but plea with you to continue to lift up women causes around the world. Be blessed Hillary!

    Posted by Joe June 5, 08 01:15 PM
  1. First off... Annette, why don't you just stop lying and come out of the closet? Admit that you're not a Democrat, and the only reason you may have voted for Senator Clinton in the primary/caucus is that you wanted McSame to win. You should read the four entries after yours to find out what a REAL Democrat would say.

    And to #s 2-5... Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the Democratic party. In all elections there is only one person who wins and often many people who don't. The fact that your candidate was not the one does not diminish in any way your efforts on behalf of the candidate that you felt was the right one. In truth, only time will really tell who's right, but as an Obama supporter please allow me to congradulate you on a hard fought race. As the father of a four year old girl and the son of a single mother who rose to the top of her field I'm proud of how far this country has come when a woman can come so close to the nomination.

    I've been telling anyone that would listen since January of 2007 that Senator Obama should be the presidential nominee and that Senator Clinton should be the vice-presidential nominee. Obama on top makes a break with the past. Only yesterday the Democratic National Committee announced that it would take NO money from lobbyists or PACs. That would not have been the case had Senator Clinton come out on top. While she has many admirable skills, she's hopelessly tied to the past, and the old way of doing business in Washington. On the other hand, VP Dick has forever changed the office of the Vice President. I truly believe that Mrs. Clinton's aggressive and hard-working style is just what this country needs in that office to accomplish universal health care and so many other things.

    Again, thank you.

    Posted by cuzinjo June 5, 08 01:23 PM
  1. I do have some sympathy for Hillary Clinton, but she is no way inspired me. She failed miserably to win a primary campaign - her biggest mis-calculation. She is inconsistent and her "handlers" sabotaged her. Ultimately, there is no one to blame but herself.

    I was OK with her until February 5th. When she and her campaign turned vicious because they had failed to consider states with contests after this date and began losing, I lost all respect for her. It was at this point, "Shame on You Barack Obama", that she forever lost my vote and support. She is divisive at a time when Americans need to come together.

    Posted by LM June 6, 08 08:38 AM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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