THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE
International News
‘Today our paths have merged,' Clinton tells Democrats
RAMYA JEGATHEESAN
SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL; Associated Press
540 words
28 June 2008
The Globe and Mail
A20
2008 CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
WASHINGTON -- Former rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton rallied the Democratic troops yesterday in an ostentatious display of party unity.
“We may have started on separate paths, but today our paths have merged,” Ms. Clinton told a cheering crowd in Unity, N.H.
“Today, our hearts are set on the same destination for America,” the New York senator said, urging her supporters to vote and work for Mr. Obama in the coming presidential election campaign.
“I've admired her as a leader, I've learned from her as a candidate. She rocks,” said Mr. Obama, thanking the former first lady for allowing his daughters to “take for granted that women can do anything that the boys can do, and do it better, and do it in heels.”
Mr. Obama captured the Democratic nomination from Ms. Clinton earlier this month after a long and divisive campaign, but now needs her to bring her loyal voters over to the Illinois senator's camp.
Ms. Clinton has a strong following among women and white middle-class workers, a demographic that Mr. Obama has had difficulty tapping throughout the campaign. It is also a demographic that Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has been carefully wooing.
“President [George W.] Bush and Senator McCain are like two sides of the same coin and that doesn't amount to a whole lot of change,” Ms. Clinton argued. And she offered a personal appeal to those who supported her and who may now be thinking of supporting Mr. McCain.
“I strongly urge you to reconsider,” she told them.
Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama have a lot to offer each other. She needs his help paying down a growing campaign debt, which stands at $22.5-million (U.S.), and he needs her moneyed donors to reach deep into their pockets, now that he has decided to forgo public funds in his pursuit of the presidency.
The 6,000-strong rally was held in the aptly named hamlet of Unity, scene of the first state primary almost six months ago. Each candidate received 107 votes in Unity on Jan 8.
The return to Unity was both symbolic and tightly choreographed. New Hampshire will be a key state in November. A recent Associated Press-Yahoo News poll found that more than half of Ms. Clinton's followers have already transferred their allegiance to Mr. Obama. On the other hand, a number of websites have popped up, sponsored by Clinton supporters, who believe sexism and foul play robbed their champion of the nomination. One of the most prominent is justsaynodeal.com.
Whether the New York senator will land the vice-presidential spot on the ticket remains to be seen. Mr. Obama has not said when he will announce his choice as running mate.
But Ms. Clinton has not completely forgotten the raucous months of the campaign. “I was honoured to be in this race with Barack, and I am proud that we had a spirited dialogue,” she said, then paused.
“That was the nicest way I could think of phrasing it.”
International News
‘Today our paths have merged,' Clinton tells Democrats
RAMYA JEGATHEESAN
SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL; Associated Press
540 words
28 June 2008
The Globe and Mail
A20
2008 CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
WASHINGTON -- Former rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton rallied the Democratic troops yesterday in an ostentatious display of party unity.
“We may have started on separate paths, but today our paths have merged,” Ms. Clinton told a cheering crowd in Unity, N.H.
“Today, our hearts are set on the same destination for America,” the New York senator said, urging her supporters to vote and work for Mr. Obama in the coming presidential election campaign.
“I've admired her as a leader, I've learned from her as a candidate. She rocks,” said Mr. Obama, thanking the former first lady for allowing his daughters to “take for granted that women can do anything that the boys can do, and do it better, and do it in heels.”
Mr. Obama captured the Democratic nomination from Ms. Clinton earlier this month after a long and divisive campaign, but now needs her to bring her loyal voters over to the Illinois senator's camp.
Ms. Clinton has a strong following among women and white middle-class workers, a demographic that Mr. Obama has had difficulty tapping throughout the campaign. It is also a demographic that Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, has been carefully wooing.
“President [George W.] Bush and Senator McCain are like two sides of the same coin and that doesn't amount to a whole lot of change,” Ms. Clinton argued. And she offered a personal appeal to those who supported her and who may now be thinking of supporting Mr. McCain.
“I strongly urge you to reconsider,” she told them.
Ms. Clinton and Mr. Obama have a lot to offer each other. She needs his help paying down a growing campaign debt, which stands at $22.5-million (U.S.), and he needs her moneyed donors to reach deep into their pockets, now that he has decided to forgo public funds in his pursuit of the presidency.
The 6,000-strong rally was held in the aptly named hamlet of Unity, scene of the first state primary almost six months ago. Each candidate received 107 votes in Unity on Jan 8.
The return to Unity was both symbolic and tightly choreographed. New Hampshire will be a key state in November. A recent Associated Press-Yahoo News poll found that more than half of Ms. Clinton's followers have already transferred their allegiance to Mr. Obama. On the other hand, a number of websites have popped up, sponsored by Clinton supporters, who believe sexism and foul play robbed their champion of the nomination. One of the most prominent is justsaynodeal.com.
Whether the New York senator will land the vice-presidential spot on the ticket remains to be seen. Mr. Obama has not said when he will announce his choice as running mate.
But Ms. Clinton has not completely forgotten the raucous months of the campaign. “I was honoured to be in this race with Barack, and I am proud that we had a spirited dialogue,” she said, then paused.
“That was the nicest way I could think of phrasing it.”
