George McGovern Supports Obama, Urges Clinton To Drop Out

Former Presidential candidate George McGovern is the first high-profile Hillary Clinton supporter to urge her to drop out of the race. McGovern used to support Clinton, but switched his backing to Obama after the North Carolina and Indiana primaries.

McGovern's reversal threatens to spur a wave of defections of Clinton supporters, especially from superdelegates.

Reuters reports that McGovern told Bill Clinton about the surprise decision in a phone call:

McGovern, 85, said he told Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, of his surprise decision in a telephone call, and that Clinton made no attempt to change his mind.

"He just wanted me to know that he thinks that Hillary has made a great race and it's up to her to decide when she leaves. And I don't argue with that," McGovern said.

The National Review notes that it must be especially painful for Clinton to have McGovern switch his allegiance after the Clinton family foundation gave $25,000 to support the McGovern Library and Center for Leadership and Public Service.