When it was announced that Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton was going to give a concession and endorsement speech the key questions became: would it give Democratic presumptive nominee Senator Barack Obama what he needed to begin to unify the party — and would it allow the controversial Clinton to emerge from the primaries a historic figure poised to have a bright future within the party or if she decides to run for higher office again?
The answers: Yes and yes.
Clinton’s rousing speech was a professionally crafted in terms of content, masterfully delivered in terms of style, and perfectly calibrated to turn some initial anti-Obama rumblings when she endorsed Obama into cheers for Obama at the end. She tried to shift her supporters over to Obama, arguing that her goals are his goals and are their goals. And the plea for unity was delivered with force and sincerity.
Clinton once again displayed what we have noted at TMV before: out of all of the candidates who first began running for President in 2007 in either party, she is the one who has most grown as an actual campaigner. And in this speech, she showed that she has also blossomed as a campaign speaker: the speech ranks as one of her most perfectly and sincerely delivered speeches. The text of her speech is HERE.
Indeed, if she is seriously on Obama’s list as a Vice Presidential possibility, her performance in this speech would qualify as a successful audition. She used words such as “family” when referring to the Democratic party painted the election as a turning point election. She warned Democrats not to let Republicans take the White House again. She even used Obama’s “Yes We Can” slogan.
Her call for unity, delivered forcefully and coupled with her recap of how important her candidacy was in changing some expectations and assumptions about America’s women, should have sparked relieved smiles in Obama headquarters, jitters at the RNC (which was already circulating a big, fat sheet of comments Clinton made about Obama during the primaries), and smiles among Clinton supporters.
Here’s a roundup of some other news media and weblog reactions.
NEWS MEDIA:—USA Today live blogged the speech.
—The Raleigh Chronicle:
Senator Hillary Clinton has ended her campaign and says that she is throwing her support behind Senator Barack Obama as the Democratic Presidential nominee. Senator Obama is scheduled to visit the Raleigh state fairgrounds on Monday, so it is likely that he will make a statement during his rally.
The announcement came today as Clinton gave a speech in the National Building Museum at 401 F Street, NW, in Washington DC today. Her speech was broadcast live on her website at HillaryClinton.com.
“This isn’t exactly the party I planned, but I sure like the company,” she joked.
Just below the live feed on her website, there was a big “THANK YOU” from Clinton campaign and a statement that said “support Senator Obama today.” An online form that goes to the Obama campaign was provided.
During her speech, she endorsed Senator Obama and invoked his “Yes, we can” motto, which received applause from the crowd.
—CNN:
She urged the cheering crowd to support Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, presumptive Democratic nominee, in his bid for the White House, saying they should “take our energy, our passion and our strength and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama … I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me.”
Her endorsement was met with a scattering of boos and thumbs downs from the large crowd at the National Building Museum in Washington.
Clinton’s campaign tells CNN that 6,000 people signed up on the New York senator’s Web site to attend the speech.
She also encouraged party unity, acknowledging that the fight has been hard, but “the Democratic Party is a family, and now it’s time to restore the ties that bind us together.”
Mrs. Clinton offered nothing less than a full-throated endorsement for and embrace of Mr. Obama and his candidacy. She has said many times that she would work her heart out for the nominee, and aides said she knew that now was the time to begin to show it.
….If it was an end for Mrs. Clinton, it was a new beginning for Mr. Obama. Aides said he would take advantage of the nearly nationwide reach of his expansive get-out-the-vote operation that he built during the long Democratic nomination battle — as well as his considerable financial resources — to try to force Mr. McCain to compete in states which are usually reliably Republican.
….In one telling example, he is moving to hire Aaron Pickrell, the chief political strategist of Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio — who helped steer Mrs. Clinton to victory in that state’s primary — to run his effort against Mr. McCain there. In another, aides said, he has tapped Dan Carroll, an opposition researcher who gained fame digging up information on the records of opponents for Bill Clinton in 1992, to help gather information about Mr. McCain. That is the latest evidence that for all the talk on both sides about a new kind of politics, the general election campaign is likely to be bloody.
Mr. Obama’s campaign is likely to hire Patti Solis Doyle, who was Mrs. Clinton’s longtime associate and campaign manager until a shake-up in February, the first of what Mr. Obama’s aides said would be a number of hires from the Clinton campaign.
—The Washington Post’s Chris Cilllizza:
Clinton seemed ready to follow her own advice, repeatedly making clear that this race was just a chapter — albeit it a big one — in a life dedicated to public service.
She offered few obvious clues in answer to the question of “what’s next,” although she spoke forcefully in favor of universal health care. “It is a fight I will continue until every single American is insured, no exceptions and no excuses,” Clinton said.
Her own legacy — and her husband’s — were clearly on her mind, however. She noted that in the 40 years she had been involved in public service, there had been ten presidential elections — only three of which had been won by Democrats. “The man who won two of those elections is with us today,” Clinton said, turning to her husband just off stage and adding her own applause to that of the assembled crowd.
The recognition of her husband and his work for the country and the party during the 1990s was a first step in the rehabilitation of the former president’s image, which has been badly dinged during this primary season.
“My mother wants it to be very clear that we are all going to unite our party and take back the White House in November!” Chelsea Clinton told Democrats at a pre-scheduled Democratic party fundraiser Friday night.
“Clinton struck the tone most Democrats wanted to hear,” said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. “Fears that she would stop short of withdrawing from the race should be put to rest after her very clear remarks and the party can focus on drawing together for the general election campaign.”
Standing before a throng of supporters with American flags as her backdrop, Hillary Clinton did something Saturday that 17 months ago seemed unthinkable — she conceded defeat.
The former first lady, who as recently as Tuesday declared herself the strongest candidate, gave former rival Barack Obama an unqualified endorsement and pivoted from her role as determined foe to absolute ally. She suspended her historic bid for the White House, settling the dust following a grueling 17-month campaign.
Clinton repeatedly called on her supporters to unite behind the Illinois senator, casting the general election as a critical opportunity to shift course after seven years with a Republican president. She acknowledged the hard-fought and sometimes-bitter Democratic primary battle, but assured her voters that Obama has proved himself to the country.
—The BBC’s report includes some of this:
The BBC’s Kevin Connolly, at the National Building Museum, says Mrs Clinton’s supporters had queued there for six hours in gruelling humidity to hear her.
He says there was an angry feeling among many of her supporters that Mr Obama only won because the complex rules of the Democratic Party process suited his campaign.
Mr Obama won enough delegates to effectively secure the nomination after the final primaries on Tuesday.
…The BBC’s Kim Ghattas in Washington says that although the decision on the running mate is Mr Obama’s, Mrs Clinton would also face a tough choice if offered it.
If she does not take it, our correspondent says, it may look as if she is not doing enough for Mr Obama, but if she accepts and Mr Obama loses she may be blamed for the defeat.
There’s not much more to say than that that was a class act.
Hillary Clinton did everything she could have been asked to do in uniting her supporters behind Barack Obama.
She also gave a speech that captured the historical weight not only of her run, but also of her family’s exit — for now — from the presidential stage.
It was a speech that will help redefine not only her 2008 run, but what we remember of Bill (despite all of his recent lapses) as the steward of two of the three Democratic presidential terms America has seen in the last four decades.
Her concession ended a chapter of American history that has seen a President Bush or Clinton in the White House for nearly 20 years. It also heralded the possibility, which seemed almost unthinkable a year ago, that Obama, 46, could become America’s first black president after the election in November.
…Throughout the primary season that began in January, however, she was outshone by Obama’s dynamism and promise of change.
Clinton’s ability to deliver legions of women and white working-class voters to Obama ensures that she will remain a towering figure in the race against John McCain, 71, the Republican nominee. Her campaign was suspended rather than terminated, enabling her to continue to raise money to pay off debts of more than $30m and keeping her technically in the race. She plans to retain a core team of advisers. She may call on it again in 2012.
But, bottom line, Obama got what he wanted: several succinct sound bites of Clinton pledging her fealty to the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee (whose achievement, let’s face it, still must be difficult for Clinton to process).
Assuming that the vast, vast majority of Americans had better ways to spend their weekend than tune in to Clinton’s Saturday speech — which began about 45 minutes later than its scheduled start at noon EDT — it will be through these sound bites that most will learn of her message.
…But her larger point, which she elaborated on, was that her party “cannot let this moment slip away” because of internal strife.
Whether it can seal the deal and win in November is in Obama’s hands now. But Clinton, to a degree that it had not been clear she would do, laid the groundwork for him to bring her backers into his camp. Ultimately, he could not have asked for more.
A CROSS SECTION OF WEBLOG OPINION (these are excerpts so please go to links and read the entire posts)
Senator Clinton did all she needed to do: thanked everyone and unequivocally endorsed and supported Barack Obama. One theme stuck out to me: she essentially said that even though she was careful to avoid ever saying that she was running because she was a woman and that people should vote for her because she is a woman, that’s what she believes in private. That’s the theme she spoke of most compellingly. She is Ellen Malcolm’s spiritual sister. In the end, Clinton remains wedded to the identity politics of her generation and her time. It’s a powerful message after so many long decades and centuries in which women have been denied full equality in law and society. It’s a necessary message and a moral message. But it becomes circular and self-defeating when it becomes its own rationale.
I think history will show that she didn’t quite have the talent to do it on her own steam, but that she made it much easier for another woman to become president one day. Her two biggest problems: She first married a man who was her political superior and was then defeated by one.
I thought she was great. As one of her supporters, I am going to honor her wishes. She could not have been more clear.
Sen. Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee. The 18 million people who voted for her should now enthusiastically support Sen. Barack Obama.
Even if you thought Hillary was the better candidate for President, she is no longer in the race. That is not going to happen.
What matters now is that we put a Democrat back in the White House. We must all work for that. The alternative , a John McCain presidency, is simply unacceptable.
The race is over. Let’s get past it and look forward.
I’m past it. I thank Hillary for her commitment, her resolve and her passion. She inspired millions of us. She will continue to inspire, lead and work to improve our lives — just not as President.
TalkLeft is proud to now officially declare, “Barack Obama in 2008.” He has our full support.
This was the speech that she needed to give. Senator Clinton showed class, courageousness, determination and a unshakable commitment to the causes she and the Democratic party believe in — yes, there were bumps in the road over the last 16 months, but she never gave up and we commend her for sticking to her guns.
–Trail Blazer’s Blog looks at what Hillary Clinton didn’t say…
It was a marvelous and heartfelt speech, very skillfully and adroitly delivered. Most of all it said what needed saying.
…There have already been many words spent exploring why her campaign came up short, but regardless of her tactical errors and missteps, the biggest problem she had was Barack Obama. He is a special and historic candidate of unique quality, and it was everyone’s mistake to underestimate him. He had a ceiling to shatter too — and is going to do it.
With the help, of course, of women like Hillary. Hopefully, the speech today will help many of them reconcile themselves with disappointment and look forward to the real victory — for women, for all of us — in November.
As an Obama supporter I am satisfied. And, maybe for the first time, I am inspired by Senator Clinton. As I said upon hearing she was ending her campaign: Thank you, Senator. “Yes we can.”
While Clinton talked about a glass ceiling, the reality is that initiallly the race was hers to win. If there are identity barriers associated with obtaining the Democratic nomination for president, the one Obama faced is at least as formidable as the one Clinton complains about.
I am not trying to persuade anyone to agree with Hillary. I honestly don’t yet know how I will vote in November. Fortunately, I have about five months to ponder and decide.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen comments around the blogosphere over the last few days expressing anger at Hillary because of her stated support for Obama.
It’s hard to tell from watching how some media outlets and DNC “leaders” treated (and still are treating) her, but Hillary Clinton is made of the same flesh and blood that we all are — and she has faced considerable brutality.
….Do I plan to give a free pass to those media outlets and DNC “leaders” who poisoned the Democratic primaries with noxious sentiments? Not a chance. Visions of boycotts and protest letters are dancing in my head.
Mark Hemingway who was at the event today says, “I don’t know if this really came across on TV but there was a surprisingly audible number of boos every time Obama was mentioned.”
Yes, it was obvious, Mark.
Wow! Who thought this day would ever come.
Hillary talks about the barriers to women.Hillary talks about the remarkable gains of women because of her campaign.
“If we can blast 50 women into speech- We can launch a woman into the White House!”Regardless, she gives Obama a great plug!
Hillary wants to give every child a chance to succeed.
What’s holding them back now?
Hillary Clinton did what she needed today and then some. No reservations. No pauses. Complete commitment.
Hillary is a better candidate today and all I can do is dream about tomorrow. I stand by her today, tomorrow, anywhere, any time, any year. Today and tomorrow that requires me to do everything I can to defeat John McCain, and make sure Barack Obama is elected president in November. That’s exactly what I intend to do.
Sounds like Barack’s speech writers wrote some of that speech.
She didn’t need to mention John McCain. It wasn’t about him.
Now, let’s see what she actually does to try to get Barack elected. Actions speak louder.
I haven’t forgiven her for her campaign, but I can admit that it’s time to look forward and she did that with her speech.
I’ll get around to forgiveness when I get around to it.
But this was the first step toward unity and I’ll always give the devil his due.
Hillary Clinton’s concession speech had all the elements of the Clinton speechmaking tradition: She showed up late, the speech was long, the historic struggles of the poor and the oppressed were made to relate to the Clintons’ personal ambitions. Nevertheless, it was the speech many people were expecting Tuesday night. It was reasonably well delivered and, for Hillary, gracious in parts. Although the litany of good things that would happen if we elected another Democratic president — “Elect Barack Obama!” — sounded hectoring by the end, it was a strong endorsement of Obama that I think might help some of the Hillary dead-enders come to terms with her defeat.
Obama’s nomination and Clinton’s near-nomination are indeed historically significant and likely to inspire millions of blacks and women across America. Yet Clinton sometimes unwittingly played up the African American/woman alternative in a way that showed how much the Democratic Party has become a squabblng set of identity-politics interest groups. Reinstating the Clinton dynasty is Good for Women.
We knew she would officially drop out soon, but the endorsement is surprising. She’s really trying to kiss up to grab that V.P. spot. There’s a whole lot of Clinton supporters that refuse to back Obama so adding her to his campaign won’t help much.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.