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

[PAposter]

I firmly believe that the early superdelegate endorsements for Hillary were Bill Clinton loyalists who assumed she would be the nominee. I will not be surprised if more current Clinton superdelegates move over to Obama. Hell, if some of the voters from earlier states had the same option, they would be moving to the Obama camp too. I know my sister wants her Hillary Clinton vote back (who was only voting for her because she's a woman). This is what happens when you don't consider the whole person, and their policies, and politics. I also find that people who voted for Hillary are almost embarrassed to admit it now. Luckily, they had strong Democrats looking out for them over in the Obama camp.

Obama/Americans '08

[letherial]

They shouldnt be embarrassed...if you back away from obama and look at the whole picture, she isnt all that bad...just a bit ambitious. I honestly thought i would be voting for her, and i would have assuming she doesnt steal the nomination from obama(highly doubtful now) I cant blame alot of people supporting her, what i do blame is the lack of facts her supporters seem to miss, specifically the math, how can anyone argue the variables of the math in this election...3+2 = 4 because 3 isnt realy a number and looses status and makes it a 2.....the logic here baffles the mind, the way she spins the numbers makes me dumber every time i listen to it.

[charley0008]

I have no problem with Hillary staying on if that is what she wants.
She cannot do any more harm that she already has to Sen. Obama or the Democratic party except waste more precious time.
There is nothing different in the circumstances now than there was before.
She could not catch him before and knew that, she can't catch him now and knows that.
It was all an exercise in her blind ambition, employing every GOP tactic she could against a fellow Democrat.
But Sen. Obama can now turn all of his attention on to McCain, even if she stays in.
She can snarl all she wants, but she is now a toothless tiger. So let her stay or let her go,
but here is where I draw the line as a former Hillary turned Obama supporter who has donated the max to his cause.
Hillary is now going to lay all of her accumulated debt, including her personal contribution of approx. 11.5 million at Obama's door to be paid off plus what ever other favors she may want. That will be the price to get her out of the race.
Talk about adding insult to injury!
Let her stay but let her pay her own campaign debts!

[no1dolo]

So is he a super of not?

[no1dolo]

Just found out that he isn't a SD.

[wm1066]

He is an Elder Statesman, and that does have clout.
The republicans don't have SD's but they have Elder Statesman . Bush gave his republican Elder Statesman the finger when they tried to advise him, so too will Hillary.

[mlaiuppa]

I'm so glad I voted for him way back.

You go, George. Talk to Bill. Convince him to hit Hillary with a reality check. Then call all of your buddies and get them on board publicly.

[Gma11]

So I am. He is a man of honor and dignity.

[SaltySaltillo]

Someone really needs to put the Clinton campaign and the pundits in their place with this "swing state electability" argument. If you look at county-by-county results of states that Clinton is winning in the primary, you see a pattern emerge that is like the 2004 general election: everywhere Clinton is only winning in counties that Bush won in the 2004 general election, while Obama is winning in counties that Kerry won in 2004. In Pennsylvania, Kerry won, but on a county by county vote, Kerry only won around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The rest of Pennsylvania voted for Bush, but Kerry's urban support carried the state. Obama's strength was the same Philadelphia voters that gave the state to Kerry. So the idea that Obama is losing in places where the Dems need to win to carry PA is false.

In OH and IN, Kerry only carried one city in Ohio in'04: Cuyahoga county (Cleveland), while the rest of the state broke for Bush, yet Kerry barely lost Ohio. Obama carried Cuyahoga County, but also carried Franklin and Hamilton counties (Columbus and Cincinatti).

In Indiana in 2004, Kerry only carried Lake county; the rest of the state for Bush. Again, Obama carried Lake county, as well as Indianapolis, Bloomington and several other northern counties.

In states where Kerry lost, Obama is winning more than Kerry did. In states where Kerry won, Obama is winning the same counties the same constituencies that put Kerry over the top in the general.

[spqesq]

Choir to Preacher: We know.

[SaltySaltillo]

Oh... can anyone tell me which way it is to the pro-Clinton news comment board... I have a message that needs delivery.

[CocteausTwin]

OK I am not trying to be snarky but her suggestion in the "rally" saying students with debt should have option to pay loans with community service brings about one thought -- I would just love to see her work on a bridge to pay for her latest $6.4 mil loan to her campaign. Put your money where your mouth is Senator Clinton.

[tsktsktsk]

$11.4M. Don't forget to include the original $5M loan.

[k6007]

Hillary sounds more like Huckabee every day. I think she is going to punish Bill, by making him campaign for Obama.

[ctbutte]

McGovern and Obama are 2 peas in a pod. This Novmeber you will see what I mean

[AdLib]

I know! They're both Democrats?! They're both going to be at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration?! They're both going to be part of the winning party in November that wins by a landslide?!

[kdubbg]

They both ran in elections against douchebags who had secret plans to win the war??

KMA.

[Smartey]

I'm ready for Miss Wrinkle Face, Her Royal Pantsuit Hillary Rodhent Clinton, to take her dick wagging husband -- and skulk back to Arkansas. These grifters -- the Bonnie and Clyde of our time -- have been a pimple on the cheek of America for too long. This shrill shrew and her pervert prickster need to be condemned, and kicked as far away from the national conscience as possible. God, when I think of the damage these narcissistic nimrods have done to the Democratic Party, I'm utterly ashamed. With what they've done to America, coupled with Jimmy Carter's embarassing term, it's a miracle Americans even consider voting for us.

Good riddance, Clintons, and don't let the door hit you.

[Yasmine]

NO ONE SHOULD TELL HILLARY TO STOP RUNNING.....................LET HER DO WHAT SHE WANTS
I HOWEVER HOPE SHE WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RUN A CLEAN CAMPAIGN, so she rredeems from the kitchen sink strategy.
she never needed to be mean................

[thegreatgiginthesky]

I think she lost between the whole Rev. Wright thing and her Husband calling young voters stupid. You never refer to any part of your base as "stupid" or "immature" or "dumb". She and her Husband did that with African Americans and young voters and she paid the price.

[Charmed]

I'm a very strong supporter of Obama in NC...(we did our thing yesterday) BUT....let's stop talking about hillary getting out of the race. It's her money and as long as she stops all of that negative mudslinging just ignore her and then she'll get out on or after May 20th. If people keep saying she should get out, it's only going to make her more determined to stay in.

She's broke........let's stop some of the fighting. Some of these people saying they are hillary supporters are really republicans trying to keep the division going between the supporters......

[Gma11]

Yes!! Let's please start looking ahead.

We've got a lot of work to do. Bush is leaving such a mess, we have more than enough to concentrate on.

[CocteausTwin]

Did any one watch her latest "rally"? What a dis-en heartened crowd. I for one do not want her or her cronies (maybe flying monkeys might be a better term) to have anything to do with Our campaign for Obama.

[VillyVal]

That can be arranged.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Dude, let's be realistic. Those "cronies" are american people as well. This is the same divide that Obama speaks out against. Let us not divide but rather let us unite. Not as Clinton supporters, Obama supporters but as American people who want to take back the country from the republicans who have given us up for dead.

[transendentilist]

Well stated.

[transendentilist]

If you think Obama is not going to need Hillary supporters, think again. By the time the GOP gets done with him, Obama will be begging for votes.

[Rose52]

I agree with part of your statement. Obama will need her supporters just as she would have needed his.

[RedKnuckles]

Problem is that McCain, who has been unpressured by the media, continues to make major gaffes and blunders. He will be easy to tear apart cleanly and on the issues. You are right that Obama will need Clinton supporters in the GE though and I think we heard the healing start in earnest last night. I for one, all along, would gladly vote for either of our Dem candidates. To whine about staying home or voting for McCain just because a favored candidate is losing is pure nonsense...fatal nonsense.

[LesserFool]

> Did any one watch her latest "rally"? What a dis-en heartened crowd. I for one
> do not want her or her cronies (maybe flying monkeys might be a better term)
> to have anything to do with Our campaign for Obama.

What an immature, counter-productive thing to say. I will be glad when Ms. Clinton finally decides to leave the stage, but I'm not so myopic as to burn bridges as I celebrate. Ask yourself how you would feel if Ms. Clinton's backers said the same thing about Obama supporters. If not already, you would be completely turned off with no hope to be persuaded back ... even to hold your nose when you vote. Be real.

[BetterDays]

Sore winner??

[going2ireland]

+ a super for Obama and - a super for Clinton.

[independentrepublicrat]

"willing to continue funding her campaign"

For a loser, she is trying to run up a heavy debt still. She can't win so is she trying to burn up debt to ask Senator Obama to pay it off. He should not pay off her debts. I don't know if I can give him the maximum for the general if he is going to pay off her debts. Under no circumstances should his campaign reimburse her for the money she "loaned" to her campaign, which was only used to ruin his chances for election in the fall. The thought of him potentially paying her debts makes me wish I had never donated to his primary bid.

[transendentilist]

What are you babbling about???

[k6007]

I think the winner is obligated to pay off the loser's campaign debt.

[biglover]

Do you just make up these things. There is no obligation to pay off the loser's campaign debt. I hope he does not.

[RedKnuckles]

How can Obama be obligated to pay off her debt when she still has millions in the bank??...in spite of what Russert says...

[NoLove4HillaryAnymore]

I don't think he will but you have to understand if he does which I think he will not but if he does, there are costs to getting what you want for the American People. If he is not able to come to terms with the smoothest way to transition and re-unite the Democratic Party, we are all losers.

Please let's tone down the venting. After all, Clinton is a strong democrat and we have to respect and admire her for her efforts during this election however dirty or undemocratic it may be. We have to be able to look ahead rather than live in the past. I really think that is what Obama would like all of us to do.

[independentrepublicrat]

Then you should take your unity over to her website and donate $2300 to her immediately. Don't give me garbage about my feelings about how to spend MY money. Until you donate the max to her then don't lecture me about my now wanting to help her financially. IF I HAD WANTED TO SUPPORT BILLARY FINANCIALLY, I WOULD HAVE DONATED DIRECTLY TO HER CAMPAIGN.

[Yasmine]

that WOULD BE THE LAST STRAW....................NOT ONE PENNY should be given to her campaign from OBAMA

[PopulistPagan]

actually thats how its played, she spent the money before the writing was on the wall. It costs roughly a mil a day to run these campaigns. If BO can work out a deal with her to drop after Oregon it might not make some people happy but I think the shift in narrative and coronation would keep donors minds off it. I also suspect that we will never really know.

Time is money, and the more time to beat up the ol loony bird the better.

[tags7453]

I can't even be angry that she chooses to continue. I feel a sense of sadness for her.

[NoLove4HillaryAnymore]

Me too!! Really!

It is hard to loss an election especially if you were expected to be the one and this guy from no where comes and steal your bread and butter. Well, he also stole Bill's bread and butter in the process by showing us what Bill is made of. Anyway, it is a sad day the NY senator.