George McGovern Switches To Obama, Urges Clinton To Drop Out

UPDATE: Watch video of McGovern discussing his decision below.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Former Sen. George McGovern, an early supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton, urged her to drop out of the Democratic presidential race and endorsed her rival, Barack Obama.

After watching the returns from the North Carolina and Indiana primaries Tuesday night, McGovern said Wednesday it's virtually impossible for Clinton to win the nomination. The 1972 Democratic presidential nominee said he had a call in to former President Clinton to tell him of the decision, adding that he remains close friends with the Clintons.
"I will hold them in affection and admiration all of my days," he said of the Clintons.

McGovern's announcement comes a day before Clinton was scheduled to travel to South Dakota to campaign. The state holds its primary June 3 with 15 pledged delegates at stake.

McGovern said he had no regrets about endorsing Hillary Clinton months ago, even before the Iowa caucuses.

"She has run a valiant campaign. And she will remain an influential voice in the American future," he said.

But Obama has won the nomination "by any practical test" and is very close to a majority of the pledged delegates, said McGovern, who is 85. Obama moved within 200 delegates of clinching the nomination with his split decision on Tuesday of a win in North Carolina and a narrow loss in Indiana.

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It's time to unite the Democratic Party, he said.

"Hillary, of course, will make the decision as to if and when she ends her campaign. But I hope that she reaches that decision soon so that we can concentrate on a unified party capable of winning the White House next November," he said.

McGovern is not a superdelegate, one of the prominent Democrats who has a vote at the national convention.

[WATCH]

Comments

[MikePS65]

I'm seeing a lot of angry vows to vote Republican rather than vote for Obama here.

I understand your anger. I'd be devastated if my candidate wasn't going to be on the ballot. I'm not sure, though, why you hate Obama the way you do. He has tried to keep the focus on the issues even as Hillary questioned his faith, his honesty, his patriotism. Even your promise to vote for McCain doesn't entirely surprise me - the Clintons have made it clear, in as many words, that McCain is the candidate THEY prefer.

Obama has occasionally responded in kind, but in a measured way (he has never endorsed McCain over Clinton) - his arguments against her have otherwise centered on her policy positions and record. I think an objective observer (and I'll admit to not being entirely objective about my candidate at this point) would conclude that the Clinton campaign adopted a more cynical approach than Obama's.

As far as Hillary is concerned, is it impossible to believe that maybe the root of her woes as a candidate is not the press, not Obama, not mass hysteria - but Hillary herself? Couldn't it be that maybe, just MAYBE, she is responsible for at least some of her own faults as a candidate?

Neither of these people is perfect. And both groups of supporters are more alike than not. We both want to put George W. Bush and his disastrous policies behind us. That's the big one - and the

[MikePS65]

...only one that matters.

[mikeydreslim]

Please evry1 watch this and spead it ound. It tells you a lot about Obama and clinton

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MCmD1197b_8&feature=user

[OhReallySheSaid]

But I don't have to worry. The Obama campaign has been very careful to hide his brother Roy, a devout and militant muslim and rabid anti-westerner who will have the good fortune (for you) of at least pushing Rev. Wright out of the limelight. Good luck.

[rzan]

Obama first met his Kenyan brothers and sisters as an adult. He was not raised with them. Your argument is meaningless. We have 3 million Muslim citizens in this country, by the way, and they have the same rights as you or me. You need to examine your bigotry.

[justobserve]

Clintons' lies again. Obama's supporters, white, black, men, women, young, old, new, educated, uneducated, middle class, upper class, lower class, all voted for Obama due to Clintons' nonsense. The more they throw out baits of whatever kind, the more they will backfire on Clintons. She is just sleepwalking through the motion now to satisfy her own ego. She has tried to move the goalposts many times before, now, she is after votes (not voters' right, mind you) in MI & FL. How ironic that Harold M. Ickes, a Clinton strategist, who sits on the DNC's rules committee, said he would argue that Florida and Michigan had been punished enough by the rules that prevented the candidates from campaigning there, and that the party needs to curry favor with voters in these two general-election battlegrounds. Oh yeh, curry voters' favor now that Clinton needs their votes.
"...punished enough that prevented campaigning..."? It seem Clinton had a plan to agree to not campaigning so that she would get the most votes for being the most well-known candidate. That seems to punish Obama, not Clinton. That is why now she spins that she has to fight for voters (not their votes of course!) in those states by ignoring the voice of all other states. How logical is that? This is the argument of a mentally ill person. They just twist it this way and that until it fits in what they want, never mind what they destroy in the process.

[AbbieXHoffman]

How do you go directly from what OhReallySheSaid said to "Clinton lies again"?

You act like blind followers of any icon - blame the opponent for every obstacle your leader has. That's just not rational.

My recommendation to you: Whenever you are feeling an overwhleming amount of hate for anything take a step back and consider that part of your hate (maybe not all of it) is not rational.

[AbbieXHoffman]

Direct your disgust toward the poster for bringing up Roy-not Clinton.

[OhReallySheSaid]

But I don't have to worry. The Obama campaign has been very careful to hide his brother Roy, a devout and militant muslim and rabid anti-westerner who will have the good fortune (for you) of at least pushing Rev. Wright out of the limelight. Good luck.

[Flagal]

Posting it twice doesnt make it so.
Proof?

[Flagal]

Obama has 8 half brothers and sisters from his fathers previous marriages.
Is it your contention that he is responsible for their actions or religion? Or are you a typical lowlife Clinton supporter who throws crap against a wall and hope some of it sticks, since your savior has no redeeming qualities of her own.
Disgusting excuse for a person.

[Flagal]

Does the Clinton campaign pay you to post racist propaganda?
Or do you just get a kick out of it?

[jfor]

Hillary supporters just do not get it, the concept that anyone just does not like Hillary Clinton is beyond them. It is amusing to see how sensitive Hillary's supporters are since their candidate has three testicles and is the toughest hombre in the world, I guess when the person you support is tough, you dont have to be? It is time to stop whining and threatening Hillaryfans, it is time to stop attacking and lying for your failed candidate. Today is a new day so lets not talk about yesterdays news which is Hillary Clintons canidacy.

[intellifem]

I saw the interview with George McGovern and had to shake my head at how deluded he STILL is in blaming a prolonged nomination battle for his landslide loss to Nixon in 1972. Clearly old George is projecting his situation on to Hillary/Obama. He's saying "if only they didn't beat me up at the convention I would have beat Nixon." Yeah, right. SO DELUDED! Nixon was the incumbent and McGovern was the shining beacon of a "new politics"--just like Obama.

If there are any similarities between McGovern's experience and the 08 election it is that McGovern was WAY too left and ELITIST (sound familiar?) for the American people. We were in an unpopular war and the economy was in recession (sound familar?) and McGovern, the former professor (sound familiar?) still couldn't win. It was one of the worst landslides in US history. No wonder George is trying to rewite the stoy.

McGovern should keep his deluded memories of '72 to himself rather than offering them as a rationale for Hillary to drop out. He should try to recall the REALITY of '72 and warn the Dems not to put forward an unelectable candidate: Obama.

Also, has anyone ever heard of LOYALTY? Since when do you endorse someone and then abandon them when the going gets rough? McGovern is a loser all over again.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

Exactly. Obama - the McGovern of '08. The Dems would have a better chance re-running McGovern in '08.

[c1ee]

"He should try to recall the REALITY of '72 and warn the Dems not to put forward an unelectable candidate: Obama."?

How exactly is he unelectable? Could you please elaborate? You see, i'm acting dumb because you are acting dumb (or pussyfooting around) on the issue that you think Obama can't be elected because he's black. Seriously, what else is there that could possibly make Obama 'unelectable'?

Also, you talk about Loyalty?? Where does your loyalty lie, may i ask? You think loyalty for Hillary is more important than loyalty for the democratic party?? Are you seriously condoning loyalty for a person, over loyalty for party and country??

[egal]

Remember, loyalty to the Clintons is more important than voting for the best candidate, doing what's right for the nation, or acceding to the will of voters. And a candidate is unelectable when Hillary believes that enough Americans are stupid enough to believe her when she says that a candidate is unelectable--she doesn't need a reason.

[mawrm]

Interesting part is the McGovern was weakened in part by manipulation of the Democratic nomination process by Nixon Republicans. Rush Limbaugh ring a bell?
Hillary Clinton is no Hubert Humphery - not even close!

[Daisy1111]

intellifem -

You make great points. The Viet Nam war was becoming greatly unpopular yet the anti-war candidate, McGovern, still lost to Nixon.

I'll vote for Obama but if he wins it will be a miracle.

This country is not likely to elect a liberal Democrat from a midwestern or northern state.

[rzan]

That was then. This is now. The country has changed, and I hope for the better. I have met some really wonderful people from all walks of life, all ages, all religiouns, all ethnicities, who are for Obama and many actively working to ensure his campaign will succeed. He has survived kneecapping techniques by Hillary Clinton and the MSM in this campaign. I feel that if he loses it will be due to the devisivness within the party, which has been engendered, in my opinion, by Hillary Clinton.

[Mooyizz]

Also, has anyone ever heard of LOYALTY? Since when do you endorse someone and then abandon them when the going gets rough? McGovern is a loser all over again.

obviously intellifiem you are teh sore looser, i thought the rules governing the superdelegates was teh ability to switch sides if and when they want to? you see, teh same kind of cancer permeating teh HRC camp has eaten into you and that is the intolerance for a differing opinion once its not you, im sure Obama would handle mush better an Sdelegate that switches, why then r u bickering and whining about Mcgovern switiching sides

Human nature always knows who teh winner is, and teh sdelegates that r still clinging to a Hilary win r as stupid as stupid can be

[rzan]

MGovern is not a superdelegate. But he has the right to endorse whomever he wants. Have you not asked yourself why so many people who were close to the Clintons, served in their white house, have been their friends even are now supporting Obama? You don't see the same thing happening with the Obama camp. These people probably see something that even you and I don't see in the Clintons.

[rzan]

My post was not intended for you Mooyiz but for Intellifem. Sorry.

[Daisy1111]

I think th rason McGovern is nt a superdelegate is because back in 1968 he worked to eliminate the pwoer of superdelegates in the DNC.

But when he eeked out a primary win in 1972, only to lose by a landslide (McGovern lost 49 out of 52 states and Nixon won a second term), the DNC re-instated superdelegates' power to avoid some ultra liberal like McGovern getting the nominatin only to lose the general election.

So you see the superdelegate rules we abide by today were set in place thanks to McGoverns big fat loss.

Imagine losing 49 out of 52 states. I don;tthink Obama benefots from McGovern's advice.

Oh,and by the way -- do you know th DC rules also state superdelegates will not cast their votes until the convention.

All these superdels coming out for either candidate are not following the rules.

[rzan]

I think that part of the reason they are coming out is because the longer this race goes on the less our chances of winning. I am now thinking that Nancy Pelosi may be right, though, and that Hillary should campaign for as long as she wants or is able. My problem is that she keeps changing the rules herself, with each defeat that she experiences. I really wish the DNC had just allowed the candidates to fully go ahead and campaign in Florida and Michigan. A lot of Obama people did not vote in either one of those. In Michigan, he wasn't even on the ballot. I don't know how this mess can be fairly resolved actually. It would be wrong to give it all to Hillary. And yet, I know the people of those states want to be included.

[whizkid]

Who knows more about winning than George McGovern?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

There are a good many Obama supporters here showing class. It is most appreciated.

Hwever, there are a good many Obama supporters here showing anything but. Which is so unnecessary given the current situation. Amazing how the class and decorum Obama has relied on to date doesn't trickle down.

Reminds me of football great Jim Brown who said...
"When you get to the end zone, act like you've been there before."

[Aleka4]

What are you, spamming this?

You have a chat with the Obama bashers present please, since you are in the mood to lecture strangers, as well, right?

Because you wouldn't be so sanctimonious and hypocritical as to just enjoy wagging the finger at ONE side while ignoring or even cheering the ignorance of the other.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

aleka,

Your comment to me on the "June 15" string, and my reply, just got deleted by HuffPolice.

Probably over our exchange on "racist slur" -- or not -- of the commenter below both of ours.

Please join me in writing to object to their heavy-handedness: huffingtonpost.comhuffingtonpost.com

Peace.

[juangault]

There's 1229 comments on this thread, forgive me if this was noticed and posted before. McGovern is 85 now, and very likely, this was just a slip of his thoughts, but at the very end of the telephone interview, when replying to the question if Bill thought that the race was over, he said "He(Clinton) recognizes that this is a tough race, but he didn't express any of those views about still thinking she would win the nomination." Actually what he was trying to say was that they would still fight on, but his (McGovern's) "Freudian slip" said he (Clinton) knows it's over. Listen to the last part, it tells the story.

[rzan]

I agree, and I am an Obama supporter. I think we are very defensive of our candidate because we feel he has been treated unfairly by the media and by Hillary. I do want to say that I have read some really egregious things from the Clinton camp also. And there is a lot of ignorance on both sides. I will say - Don't judge our candidate by our shortcomings. I am trying really hard these days to see Hllary's side of things as far as her continuing to campaign. I know she must be really hungry for the presidency. She thought she had the nomination in the bag; she probably dreamed of being in the oval office and assuming a presidential persona. She had goals she wanted to reach. And then this person comes out of left field who seems to capture the imagination of so many people and kind of fills a void in many Americans that other candidates aren't quite doing (at least in my opinion). I can understand how hard it is for her to give up her dream.

[nativeeyes]

The Republicans want Clinton to win.. To them she is a Republican. She was brought up in a Staunch Republican Racist Household of bootleggers. She switched when she Graduated from Wellesley College..

Mccain has become the sacrificial lamb for the Republicans.. He feels he's been set up..

This is hilarious!! He knows that he won't win, they know he won't win, so they rallied behind him as the loser as his swan song into retirement..
What a set up to be in Bush's shadow in a recession. Lol!

Those GOP are some vile sons of beeshes for doing this, WOW..

That's why no real Republican stepped up to the plate and nobody really wants the VP position.

Romney wants it, but he will help in Idaho, Utah and Nevada, that's it..

It's a losing battle that nobody wants to look as a loser. Condi Rice and Powell took their name out of the mix, because they even know that it's a losing year for Republicans this year.
The Republicans are now losing office and Congress seats in States that never ever been held by Democrats.

It started with them losing the House and it's spreading all over the US. I know many of your might not care, but things are really bout to Change around this Country..

[KYJurisDocto]

Maybe, Senator McGovern should be the one to push BILLARY Clinton OFF the political cliff!

[Kalima]

I have just read where she has been promised great rewards if she bows out now.
Mainly that her campaign will return the 11 million plus that she has put in herself,
sounds good to me being as she has no chance to gain the nomination without
bending the rules and cheating, you would think. Someone needs to make a
plan so that she can bow out "gracefully" and as the Asians say, " not lose face."

[Binx101]

There is not slightest doubt in my mind that the movers and groovers are coming up with the plan right now.

The only rub is - Obama is not going to just settle for politics as usual. As you can see by scrolling down , a lot of folks are new to politics ... so maybe it is time to get rid of the old ways. But ... there's NO WAY that Obama is not going to assist Clinton in some aggressive way to assist in resolving her huge debt. It would be used against him everywhere ... including Republicans, maybe mostly Republicans.

Binx101
The Almost Daily Binx
http://binx101.wordpress.com

[Kalima]

I'm sorry but I disagree that Obama would have any reason to assist her
financially. She was the "Golden Goose" candidate with the over flowing
koffers remember?
The Clinton campaign has used vast amounts of money to smear Obama
since NH, the fact that the Clinton Camp mismanaged their funds, has
very little to do with Obama. They were opponents in a race for the
nomination for the position of the President of America. Hillary chose
her path of destruction herself, she made her bed and now she can
lie in it too.

[rzan]

Plus, why should he pay her loans that she made to herself. That would just not be right. She has much more money than any of his contributors has. I do not want to add to her fortune.

[Nochnoi]

Indeed.... she is bringing great shame to her family.... the honorable thing to do would be to graciously thank everyone for their support, pay her bills out of her own pocket (she can afford it), and stand behind Senator Obama and work towards defeating McCain....

We are also taking up a collection of confections, ice cream and tissues to make it better....

[Kalima]

It seems like the only solution, so easy really. After her tired and defeated
speech yesterday with her family looking very depressed, I thought, she
should take the advice of her long time friends and do the right thing.
Your offer for refreshments is quite nobel. I could manage green tea,
and colourful, sandlewood perfumed fans.

[Daisy1111]

She's bringing great shame?

Read up on how Ted Kennedy started a covention war when he was behind 700 delegates.

Read up on how McGovern caused the party to lose to Nixon.

[Ballot]

Why is it that Bill Clinton always looks three sheets to wind while standing behind Hillary?

[rzan]

I don't think he is well. He has had a bypass operation which indicates that he has heart disease. He looks very tired. I think this has been hard on him. When Hillary gave her speech in Indiana, he looked so sad. He has really fought for her, perhaps not always effectively, but he has tried. I remember his presidency. We liked him so well. If he could have run a third time, in spite of the scandals, he would have probably won. But that was the 1990s.

[Flagal]

transendentilist = transgendered dentist?
I thought so

[AdLib]

"Open wide..."

[Flagal]

lol

[Binx101]

With all due respect, Hillary Clinton is in a position that requires careful consideration.

Just dropping out - she could end her career politically from a big picture perspective. She needs for those endorsements to be reversed, newspapers to call for her towel, and for delegates to indicate a change of heart or that they will support her opponent.

It is the only way that she can legitimately claim defeat and at the same time not toast her own political future.

We think that three things are at play:

1. Graduate study politics - that is to say, Obama, from a political perspective could still slip on a banana peel - just think - Howard Dean. I know ... I know ... but facts are facts ... and feelings aren't facts.

2. If Obama tapsHillary for VP - this is all a matter of conjecture. However, if Obama doesn't - Clinton needs a deal for her campaign debt and she then is looking at a tougher re-election in a couple of years in NY

3. And finally, the political machinery would want to restore Hillary from a loser to a valiant, formidable almost won - in order for her to be effective against the Right Wing Slime machine and the owner operators of such things as Operation Chaos. T

That's all .. we just wanted to put some perspective on things that the talking heads won't get for days.

We wrote about Rachel Maddow's observations of these points today.

Binx101

[Binx101]

BTW: We do not expect that Obama will tap Hillary for the VP slot ..

Binx101
The Almost Daily Binx
http://binx101.wordpress.com

[rzan]

That is too bad. It would be an ideal solution in a way, but that opportunity is long gone.