Clinton Pledges 'Full Support" for Obama

In a speech in Washington June 7, Hillary Clinton announced the suspension of her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and congratulated Barack Obama on his hard-fought victory.

"I endorse him, and throw my full support behind him," Clinton told a sea of supporters at the National Building Museum. "And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me."

Of Obama, Clinton said, "I have served in the Senate with him for four years. I have been in this campaign with him for 16 months. I have stood on the stage and gone toe-to-toe with him in 22 debates. I have had a front-row seat to his candidacy, and I have seen his strength and determination, his grace and his grit.

Clinton commented that she and Obama started on separate journeys, but said their paths have merged in the quest to win the general election in the fall. And she urged unity in the party's platform on the issues of the economy, health care, equality and foreign policy.

On the specifics of health care policy, Clinton emphaszied, "We all want a health care system that is universal, high quality, and affordable so that parents no longer have to choose between care for themselves or their children or be stuck in dead-end jobs simply to keep their insurance. This isn’t just an issue for me – it is a passion and a cause. And it is a fight I will continue until every single American is insured – no exceptions, no excuses."

Obama issued a statement following Clinton's address saying that he was "thrilled and honored" to have her support.

"In deciding to suspend her campaign, Clinton kept some options open. She gets to retain her delegates to the nominating convention this summer and she can continue to raise money. It also means she could reopen her campaign if circumstances change before the Denver convention, but gave no indication that was her intention," the Washington Post reported.