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.

Story continues below

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

[AdLib]

Now on HuffPo:

HILLARY TO DROP OUT BY JUNE 15

"A senior campaign official and Clinton confidante has told me that there will be a Democratic nominee by June 15. He could not bring himself to say the words "Hillary will drop out by June 15," but that is clearly what he meant. I kept saying, "So, Hillary will drop out by June 15," and he kept saying, "We will have a nominee by June 15." He stressed what a reasonable person Hillary is."

[BigLib]

Consider the source. This from the same guy who said "Rove would be indicted on six counts".

He tends to make sh*t up.

[hopefulintexas]

-- all evidence to the contrary.

I don't believe it.

[editorjuno]

I wish I could believe this -- but it's from Laurence O'Donnell, a DC insider who's been wrong so many times that I'm amazed anyone pays any attention to him. Remember when he predicted that Karl Rove was about to be indicted? Anyway, I hope he's finally correct for once!

[AdLib]

I believe someone told him this...I don't TRUST that it's absolutely true.

Hillary and her clan are not exactly known as "truth-tellers". At least that's what a Bosnian friend of mine said.

[frappe]

I'm proud to say that I voted for George McGovern and helped him to carry my state of Massachusetts -- the only state that he carried (along with Washington DC) in his bid for the presidency against Richard Nixon in '72.

At that time, I had a bumper sticker on my car that had an outline of the state of Mass. and a caption which read: "You can't fool all of the people all of the time."

[frappe]

...In my post above, meant to say "District of Columbia" and not Washington, DC.

[CocteausTwin]

OK I'll bite -- what is the difference. I am an American and geography isn't my strongest of suits. I was born well before Carmen San Diego.

[PAposter]

But you can fool Some of the People, All of the Time, Hillary Clinton has proven that. She is the master manipulator.

[BermudaGirl]

I think the reason Hillary won't drop out is that she is up to her neck in owning favours to her corporate donors and lobbist. The same 20 who signed the letter to Nancy. Do you think they are going to just let her walk away without gaining something for their investment.

[transendentilist]

Why don't you have proof before spouting off your ridiculous conspiracy theories?

[VSamuels]

No more ridiculous or preposterous than your drivel, you are so known for passing off as wisdom.

When Clinton and her team were revealed to be broke after February 5th, one of the discoveries was the lavish spending on hotels, food and booze. They were partying like it was '1999' without any regard that they couldn't possibly lose. And, if the Clintons so believed their own hype, one can clearly project that they told their benefactors the same.

Clinton's problem is self-inflicted; and she now finds herself in the position of screwing the very people who funded her run if she leaves, they simply miscalculated about her chances, and it's anyone's guess of what she promised. The good think for some Dems is that we won't have to deal with her miscalculation for much longer.

[PAposter]

BREAKING NEWS!

The President of the "United" States of America DOES NOT have to be W H I T E!

Obama/Americans '08

[UrbanWorldOnline]

lol thats a funny one.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Obama 48

[transendentilist]

No, just HALF white.

[amazinggrace]

Blackman51, you have lost your way on the internet. You need to go to AOL discussions where there are a TON of people just like you who are hate filled vessels of intolerance. Please take your divisive comments there.

Obama has it all right now, BIG states, small states, delegate count, popular vote count, and momentum..

Obama '08

[rsg5354]

amazinggrace don't waste your tim with low like people like that blackman51. Check out his name that says a lot don't u think. He's really a White Bigot

[AdLib]

Yep, just flag posts like that and they'll be wiped out.

[PAposter]

rsg5354: I agree, hopefully no real Black man would think so little of himself.

Obama/Americans '08

[rcpmac]

A senior campaign official and Clinton confidante has said that there will be a Democratic nominee by June 15. He could not bring himself to say the words "Hillary will drop out by June 15," but that is clearly what he meant. When asked, "So, Hillary will drop out by June 15?," and he kept saying, "We will have a nominee by June 15." He stressed what a reasonable person Hillary is.

[zippywpinhead]

POOF! and he's gone- just another loser repug troll who had their posts yanked...

[Daisy1111]

Scenario: McCain picks Leibermann as VP running mate.

- Independents flock to McCain's ticket to support two mavericks.
- Pro-Israel voters flock to McCain.
- Big chunk of New York and Florida votes go for the McCain ticket and the "first Jewish VP"

[rsg5354]

McCain picks Leibermann as VP running mate. Even if that happens McCain still won't win they're both old as heck.

[Marlyn]

McCane will choose Jeb Bush as his running mate.

[AdLib]

How did that work out the first time for Gore, troll?

[Daisy1111]

Hello -- Gore won the presidential election, troll. The FL recount proved it.

Gore won Florida -- his mistake was conceding before the recount was finished.

The Supreme Court elected Bush to his first term. Memory lapse?

[Gma11]

This wouldn't surprise me.

[tskogseth]

You forgot one thing:
-Conservatives stay home rather than vote for someone whose conservative views were questionable even before he chose a liberal running mate.

[rsg5354]

Very true better yet they will vote for OBAMA

[SanityNowPlease]

yeah. that's never been tried before.

[DRPike]

LOL

[AlexisAshley]

Have any of BO's supporters figured out how he is going to unite all of America while flat out ignoring the 2 million plus Americans who voted in Michigan and Florida? If he is elected president, will we have to pull out the old USA flag with only 48 states?

If any bloggers from Michigan or Florida are reading this post, please advise how you feel about being completely snubbed by what appears to be the Democratic nominee.

[transendentilist]

pull out the old USA flag with only 48 states?


He doesn't honor the current flag, what makes you think he'll honor an older one??

[lotuslike]

Old, tired and uninformed. Why not come out with some NEW talking points for a change. You're boring us...

[DRPike]

Your an idiot.

[rsg5354]

Get a grip

[MrKINOKO]

What exactly would it take to make you FAUX NEWS types think Obama was "honoring" the flag? Be buried alive in it? Wear a "made in China" lapel pin? You sound bitter...he obviously knew what he was talking about concerning you middle-America types.

[kdubbg]

BTW unless you're a big fan of dentil molding, you spelled your nick wrong.

transcendentalist

[rsg5354]

Don't be such a Donkey Butt!!! The rules were set, so don't be mad because he's still following the rules. They'll split the delegates evenly DON'T WORRY

[rsg5354]

I'm from Jacksonville, Fl and we knew our votes wouldn't count so a lot of people stayed home. Those that went to the poles only went to vote on the referendum on the house tax exempt.

[mindact]

That's baloney. Let's face it most states don't normally get to have their say during the primary process, because most primaries end by the 8th round. The idea that Florida and Michigan will be disenfranchised in November is ridiculous. We would have had a larger turnout if the candidates were allowed to vote. Let's not forget that the same logic can be applied to the republican party where half their delegates counted in both states because they moved their primaries forward. The only reason why this is news is because the Clinton campaign in trying to re-write the rules made it an issue

[rsg5354]

Very true

[Nochnoi]

I am from Michigan and in no way feel that Senator Obama has anything to do with our delegates not being seated.... he hasn't snubbed us in any way at all..... that idea is just more Hillary spin....

My State Legislature decided to break the rules, and we were punished for it..... rules are rules....

In November I will be voting for Senator Obama....

[rsg5354]

AMEN I IVE IN FLORIDA AND I FEEL THE SAME WAY.


OBAMA 08

[realpolitic]

Hillary is running at this point only for her ego. Time to step aside and help Obama beat McCain, if McCain can stay alert until the election.

[no1dolo]

HE'S NOT A SD?!? How did that happen?

[rpence]

Suggested Obama appointments:

Supreme Court: Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State: George McGovern
Secretary of Peace: Dennis Kucinich
Secretary of Environment: Al Gore
Secretary of Education: Maxine Waters

[billrott]

No No No...Hillary failed the DC bar and she is the most polarizing person in politics. She would never make it through the senate and if by miracle she did, Obama would lose all political capital.

Secretary of State - got to disagree with this one as well. Richardson or Biden is a better person.

Secretary of Peace - WTF is this? Can I be the Secretary of Partying? Seriously.

Al Gore is retired and Maxine Waters is old poltics.

[DRPike]

Secretary of Peace - WTF is this? Can I be the Secretary of Partying? Seriously.

LOL! I couldn't figure out how to say it.

[AdLib]

No to Hillary on the Supreme Court. A member of the SCOTUS needs sound judgment, she may have cajones but that, she ain't got.

[SanityNowPlease]

no more hillary.

[politisophical]

woa... as an obamacan i believe those appointments are way too liberal, if he is a uniter then he has to get more moderates like al gore.. i prefer to see
Secretary of State: hagel
Secretary of Education: paul
secretary of environment: cheney-----lol

[Gma11]

I'd like to see Clark as Secretary of State

And I'd like to see Edwards working on poverty issues in some official cabinet-level capacity.

Also, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Gen. Powell involved.

[CatLadyforObama]

How many times are you going to post this dribble?

[CatLadyforObama]

Sorry, that was for blackman51 who's been posting the same message repeatedly. Don't know why it didn't thread properly.

[DRPike]

I keep answering him hoping he will go away...alas.

[frustratedinohio]

McGovern is the reason for the superdelegates and he can't see that Obama will bring the same situation in the fall. He can't win. Superdelegates should be doing their job.

[rsg5354]

Obama can win and will win.

[neocon43]

Operation chaos has suspended all operations.You can have Obama now.we have done what we needed.He cannot win white working vote or womens vote.Go ahead run with him.

[AdLib]

They are, crybaby. Supporting Obama, our next President.

[neocon43]

Clinton just picked up super delegate in North Carolina.Your the crybabay Adlib.Trying to put the lady in back of the man again.How disrespectful!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Huzzah.

Expecting the SD's to simply mirror the popular vote is exactly the OPPOSITE of the party mindset when it INVENTED the mechanism.

[Buddhabman]

Hillary Supporters, Please note there are a bunch of Republican Trolls that have come to this site to try to drive the conversation. Yes there have been some tough things said about Sen. Clinton by us Obama fans but there is a sizeable amount of republican agitators saying the vilest things.

Come join us. Obama is electable, has has good policies, a great vision, he will attract the best talent, and his campaign is evidence that he will run a good administration.

Obama 08

[Daisy1111]

I don't believe there have been republicans posing as Obama supporters here.

Obama supporters are all over the net trashing the Clintons.

Are you going to claim that KEith Olbermann is a republican plant trashing the Clintons?

Or, Arianna Huffington is a republican plant trashing the Clintons?

And is it a mistake that many Clinton supporters ahve been banned from HuffPo for posting links to her good works?

You all did the damage -- you despise the Clintons and the Clinton supoorters -- we got your message.

You may get our message in November.

[Nochnoi]

Oh please.... you are wrong on so many levels.... and just so you know, lots of people were banned.... equally on both sides...........

[SanityNowPlease]

you wish.

[AdLib]

You are a hateful, petty person, a troll yourself.

Legit Obama supporters have been doing as Buddhabman has, offering a welcome and olive branch to Hillary supporters to come together.

Meanwhile, slime like you answer that with hatred and spite.

You're so ignorant, we've already got your message, troll and we've beaten you with one of our own, "Hope, Change and Unity".

I know your hearing words like that is like pouring a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch...we'll remember your last words though, "I'm Melting! I'm Melting! Oh, what a world!"

[macracan]

For a few rotten apples, don't banish the whole basket! If the outcome of the primaries were reversed, you'd want Obama's supporters to lend their support to Clinton, despite of everything dirty played against their candidate, wouldn't you?

Remember, the one who should get a rejection message in Nov is McCain (Bush III)!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

D1111,

After all you've written on this site, properly taking on Obama supporters for being Hillary-haters at times, are you actually saying you'd vote for McCain over Obama?

Given your "November" comment, please go on record.

********

"The sexist remarks about Hillary here in comments on HuffPo have gone on non-stop for nearly a year. And many women here have joined the fray.

Comments on her pantsuits, her figure, her voice.

Imagaine if someone commented on Obama's physicality non-stop. You'd scream racism.

You people are deaf to your own sexist remarks.

This country still has problems comprehending strong ambitious women. Women are still supressing their own ambitions because of it. .

Studies show that litlle girls up to about age 10 imagine themselves as WINNERS, strong and capable.

But by the time they start getting interested in boys all those desires get replaced by a desire to be "liked" by boys.

Now we have 15 year old girls asking their parents for breast implants to get male attention.

Sure -- beat up on the first viable female candidate for president. Insult her, tear her down, it only proves how you can't handle strength and ambition in women.

(snip)

And now you crucify Hillary for trying to make her marriage work.

Hypocrites."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/users/profile/Daisy1111

*****

Note that the alternative to Obama is a man who calls his own wife the c word in front of reporters.

[realpolitic]

Of course, Obama is hugely electable. Republicans fear a landslide victory in the fall.

[neocon43]

Keep believing that.OPeration chaos has succeded.Go ahead take OBAMA and run with him.dead meat on arrival!

[joebaggadonuts]

If there are Republicans reading these comments, perhaps they will learn that real people with real intelligence understand the issues from a different point of view than that of their instructors on Fox News and RW Radio, and they may themselves grow in intelligence and perhaps even wisdom by understanding it.

[transendentilist]

One can usually tell a phoney dem from a phoney republican. This has been going on ever since New Hampshire. Notice that the bushie posters have disappeared? Many of them now support Obama, cause Hillary scares the crap out them.

[Wheatstraw]

Off the wire

Barack Obama pocketed the support of at least four Democratic convention superdelegates on Wednesday, building on the momentum from a convincing North Carolina primary victory. Rival Hillary Rodham Clinton disclosed she had loaned her strapped campaign an additional $6.4 million in recent weeks.

[billrott]

MSM finally picked up on the fact that Hillary has loaned herself more than all her book money and her senate salary. Hillary is using the money that Bill Clinton received from his "speeches" for corporations and foreign governments.

[bygollymissmolly]

I'm waiting to see how much money she received from supporters in April. I'm betting it isn't anything near the 10 million she claimed she got in one day. I suspect that her 6.5 million was part of that 10 million.

[AZM]

Woman of la Mancha!

[transendentilist]

I wouldn't speak of windmills just yet. Obama claims some pretty lofty goals. Like ending racism for one. HA!

[urbanscorpio88]

This is the same negative attitude, that Obama is telling us to get rid of. Anything is possible if we put our minds to it...

[PopulistPagan]

Aim High. Maybe one day people will take serious mankind attempt at peace with each other and wont laugh at those of us who strive for better.

[rsg5354]

It's really sad that there are people like you still around. A true RACIST

[butch350]

Apparently it's not a good idea for you and with your attitude I tend to agree.

[k6007]

I didn't read about that one in the brochure.