Hillary Clinton To Suspend Campaign Saturday

***UPDATE***
The Clinton campaign issued a statement at around 9pm saying they will be hosting an event to announce her support for Sen. Obama on Saturday, as opposed to Friday:

Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington, DC to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity. This event will be held on Saturday to accommodate more of Senator Clinton's supporters who want to attend.

Multiple news organizations reported early Wednesday evening that Hillary Clinton is expected to officially suspend her campaign and drop out of the Democratic race on Friday.

The Times has more details on the ending of her campaign:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is moving to suspend her campaign and endorse Senator Barack Obama on Friday after Democratic members of Congress urged her on Wednesday to leave the race and allow the party to unite around Mr. Obama, according to a senior adviser to Mrs. Clinton.

Mrs. Clinton is likely to make the announcement in New York City, an aide said, although no final venue has been chosen.

Her decision came after a day of telephone conversations with supporters on Capital Hill about what she should do now that Mr. Obama has claimed enough delegates to secure the nomination. Mrs. Clinton had initially said she wanted to wait before making any decision, but her aides said that in conversations, some of her closest supporters said it was urgent that she step aside.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the word from the Obama camp is that a joint ticket is unlikely:

Close supporters suggested she would like to be his running mate, on a unity ticket.

But close advisers to Sen. Obama signaled an Obama-Clinton ticket was highly unlikely. People in both camps cited what several called "a deal-breaker" -- Bill Clinton may balk at releasing records of his business dealings and big donors to his presidential library.

Comments

[AdLib]

REALITY CHECK - JUNE 5, 2008 - TWO MYTHS DEBUNKED

1. 0BAMA HAS TO HEAL THE RIFT BETWEEN HIM AND OLDER FEMALE VOTERS.

What did he do to create this rift? He dared to run against the woman candidate (who had enormous advantages over him) and he beat her fair and square. That is the justification for hating him?

This rift was created by Hlllary, why isn't it her responsibility to repair it?

Here's how, she should speak out to her supporters, say she was wrong for dividing them against the other half of Dems, that 0bama has done nothing to deserve this hostility and since they are nearly identical on the issues, a vote for 0bama is a vote for her.

2. 0BAMA MUST PLACATE HlLLARY, SHE HAS 18 MILLION VOTERS BEHIND HER.

Really? Is she hording them in her basement? Do they all meet for tea and denial in the Grand Canyon? Is she really a Pied Piper with 18 million people following her anywhere, even off the cliff of her own ego?

Many switched to 0bama a long time ago, many saw him as their 2nd choice anyway and it's not an issue. Some were Operation Chaos Repuggs who would never vote for her in a GE.

When the euphoric Denver convention ends with Hlllary's arm around 0bama and 0bama delivering a transcendent acceptance speech, all but the Harriet Christians will be on board. So, he'll have to live without getting the bitter hateful racists who voted

[MizFlagPin]

Exactly Adlib. This is our dialogue and the dialogue that must prevail. Not the false reality being painted by a narcissitic runner up. She's not running anything and she really need to step up to the plate and get with the program or get left behind in the dust to become nothing more than a blimp in history.

[AdLib]

The MSM is complicit, keeping these myths alive means keeping the cash cow of 0bama vs. Hlllary alive.

We have to keep shooting down the BS and has happened in this campaign, the awareness of grass roots supporters can filter up to the "clever" MSM.

[vsign]

It is Obama's responsibility to extend the olive branch. Does the winner even know his responsibilities.

I won't go where I need to - to explain how Obama violated democracy. His supporters don't seem too interested in knowing either.

[CTtransplant]

Where have you been? He extended the olive branch - and she, in her 'graciousness', stomped all over it.

[olivia]

He has offered her the whole freaking OLIVE ORCHARD where have you people been?

[KaAp]

Is your second sentence a question, can you please write it appropriately?

Senator Obama has been more than gracious ... Senator has behaved like a petulant child; a bully, who was finally beat up by a group of others sick of being pushed ..
Senator Obama has never violated democracy ... your statement is not only laughable it is irresponsible and unsubstantiated ... if you are referring to Senator Clinton's rather misleading popular vote lead, may I add she included Michigan where there was NOT really a primary (and he was gracious in permitting Michigan to be seated in the way that it was) and she also DID not include many caucus states ... so the figures are misleading ... and the only violation was in her absurd calculations which were all part of the spin ... Democracy is parsed in the Clintonian definition of my way or no way at all ...
I do not think you ought to generalize to your own emotions ...

[abby4ever]

The O camp needs to do a state-by-state poll of all the states, of just H supporters who voted in primaries and caucuses, to see how many would vote for her now. They did one in California and they went for O 53%, to 37% for H. Quite unlike the primary.
He might find out that she hasn't got anywhere near 18 million, by now. Then what weould she blackmail him with?
I did hear about 3 months ago that her people would indeed try to force her onto the ticket with him, if he won the nomination. Looks like that was true.

[Rosey]

Hillary Clinton needed to graciously admit defeat, if not Tuesday, then by Wednesday. This dragging it on and asking folks to go to HillaryClinton.com is sad and bordering on pathetic. Can her ego be that big that she cannot act graciously? Apparently or maybe it is Harold Ickes, Bill Clinton and Terry South's egos all together with hers..... Think of it - they are probably whispering in her ear - go on go on go all the way to the convention and forget how divisive it is and forget how many Republicans are stoked by this -- keep going, maybe a miracle will happen.

Frankly Hillary Clinton could not have won in the general election due to the fact that white men hate her and NOT all women of an age support her either. I am sick and tired of having to add that line.

She would not be a good choice for VEEP as she has too much baggage. She would be good as Secretary of HEW! Why not press for that?

At any rate, let's get with the picture Hillary. We NEED a UNITED Democratic party. Not one complaining and abstaining from campaigning wholeheartedly for Obama (you) and saying they won't vote for Obama (your supporters.) We need to show unity today - not tomorrow or whenever she decides to admit she has lost. Frankly she keeps changing the date and I fear it will keep going.

A bit meandering and apologies to my English teachers....

[mairs]

Brilliantly put, adlib. That's it.

[JamieJay]

Hillary hasn't been fully vetted. She still hasn't released her medical file, unlike Barack and John.

[mnash]

True, and there is much much more she has not been vetted on. I don't think she will be VP unless it is absolutely necessary. Bill is not going to agree to release info on his library and that is a big issue with the Obama campaign. I would suspect with all of the people the Obama campaign now have from Clinton's past, they wouldn't need to dig too deep. Hillary's people who are demanding she be the VP do not realize they are only hurting Hillary by their demands. They should listen to Ranel and Rendel.

[JamieJay]

Hillary wants to suspend or temporary place her campaign on hold, on Saturday, so that she can have many more people to show up. Everything is all about HILLARY!

[olivia]

It's her party, and she'll cry if she wants to!

[mickeyrat]

Hillary Clinton has planned this out very carefully, and has shown how clever she is.

She is going to endorse Barack Obama. But she's not releasing her delegates, and does reserve the right to have her name placed in nomination.

You people want her to shut up? You're going to get your wish. She's going to let Obama hang himself over the next two months.

She can read the tea leaves. Every day, more and more Obama support is leached from from his campaign. Yesterday it was the AIPAC speech, in which he proved he's the same old same old, absolute support for Israel without requiring that Israel do one single thing to move towards peace in the MidEast. There are a lot of leftists who are going to be very disappointed with this guy over that speech.

Almost three months to go before the convention. This works very well. Three months for the supers to watch as Obama's support drops further and further. Three months for them to look at the polls in the critical purple states, and see that Obama can't take them. Three months to realize that "inspiration" is not a substitute for a programme and idea where we're going.

Three months is all it will take. The supers can switch their support back to her if they feel that Obama can't win.

She'll just sit back, keep her mouth shut--JUST AS YOU HAVE DEMANDED--and watch Obama hang himself.

It'll be fun to see.

[condew]

Bitter Much?

Hope that Obama wins the general, because we will all remember how Hillary softened him up for McCain. When her voice and image appears on McCain political ads, Hillary's career will be over.

[NerdyOleLady]

“This Hillary suspension is a political farce and spin to continue her run and further divide the Democratic electoral process. In a Golf Tournament and Nascar race the winner is just that the winner. The concept of suspending a NASCAR race, GOLF tournament , SCHOOL PRESIDENT, a GOVERNOR or PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION RACE, is pure idiocy and psycho-babble spin. It clearly show the level of disrespect that Hillary has for voters who want real change, and our electoral political process. Her tactics are insane and indicative of similar Bush type babble which were raised to national levels of collective insanity when finally learn they have been consistently lied to and bamboozled. I request that we all refuse accepting the ‘Suspension’ tactic which is invalid. Her statements on assassinations are unforgivable and dangerous to our collective aspiration for Obama. We must protest her suspension tactics. There is no reasons to accept the media propaganda that it is an acceptable premise. So protest, and write Congressmen and Senators letting them know how you feel about this “suspension”.
"The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind." -- Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

[JamieJay]

Suspend=to stop from operating for a time; to hold back or put off

Why is Hillary only suspending her campaign and not ENDING it? This means that she could put he name on the ballot, in Denver. By her "suspending" her campaign, she is also holding onto her delegates. They cannot move until she CONCEDES or ends it. So much for Hillary's party unity! Does she anticipate something bad happening?

[duze]

Thank God. Obama is the nominee and for the bitter women who feel that if they withhold their vote for him, he won't win, it's just fine. He won and will continue to run without the 18,000 votes Hillary is using to threaten him with. These women will vote for Obama, because regardless of their bitter, punishing ways, they can't afford gas, they lost, will or are losing their homes, they have lost jobs, they can't afford to send their children for higher education, they will lose their civil rights, they will not be able to afford health insurance, they will have their pensions stolen and they will continue to lose their children in a war that was unnecessary while, John McCain vows to continue it for 100 years. As well as the loss of their pro-choice status. Get real, none of these problems pertain to Hillary, she can make any statement or play any game she likes. Hillary is a multi-millionaire. anything John McCain does will not, I repeat, not ,effect her income, home, child, safety or security. She can just go home to Chappagua, where they can't afford to live, keep her Senate Seat and continue to plot and scheme. Her league of bitter women will suffer and she'll have no necessity to listen to it. SHE LOST. So you see they will vote for Obama and not hold on to some stupid school girl pettiness, because after Hillary lost, She could care less.

[MizFlagPin]

Yes, those 18k diehards will vote against their own interest for the sake of putting females above the party and above the nation. School girl pettiness is an accurate description.

[WoodyCPM]

I think you mean 18,000,000, not 18,000.

[Tulka2]

I say phooey. One can round up a hundred nuts people about any subject. I question how many women are rabid about Clinton. That's her story, but i question every word out of her mouth since i noticed whenever she says, "Let me tell you something", the next sentence out of her mouth is a lie.
Here's the thing about women that makes us profoundly different from males in any kind of "gender war": Women love ALL our children. We love our girls AND our boys. Most sane, good-hearted women recognize in Obama a man any mother would be proud of.

[ThomasMc]

Obama would have to be the stupidest candidate in history to pick Hillary as his running mate.

[newgeneration]

it this true? i just saw in the news than she is keeping her name on the ballad and her delegates ..
what's going on ? Is she endorsing or ending her campaign? or both ?

[MizFlagPin]

The same trick she pulled in MI. Between now and the convention Hillllary will work hard to undo the nomination. She wants her delegates counted first. She plans a coup and democrats who support Obam-a better start pushing back on Hillllary starting NOW.

[vassyuta]

that's the biggest issue, if she merely suspends the campaign, which she is expected to do, her superdelegates can remain committed to her until the convention.if the campaign is suspended and, say, something terrible comes out re: Obama, she can simply activate the campaign and compete again at the convention.

[OhioJan]

She's doing this to be able to say....PSYCH!!!!! Made you look!!! Fooled you AGAIN!!! GOD, how I dislike "elementals"!!!!

[ibsteve2u]

"Bill Clinton may balk at releasing records of his business dealings and big donors to his presidential library."

I could see where he might want to avoid that...be embarrassing, to find that his donor list included many people, both foreign and domestic, who benefited greatly financially from his asinine free trade stance.

[MizFlagPin]

Yes, like how much did Dubai pay him to consult on how Dubai could take over US ports.

[brownsugar]

I live in Pennsylvania and I totally agree with Ed Rendell. Iam so happy that he has the morals to tell Hillary and Bii Clinton that you do not bargin with the presidential nominee about a veep spot even if you are Hillary Clinton and have 18 million voters. Why does every one think she must beon his ticket. Obama does not need two veep's. Lanny Davis, Bob Johnson, Stephanie Tubbs Jones you cannot make Obama choose Hillary. You three need to back in a corner, and sit your old asses down. Leave Senator Obama alone and let him choose whomever he wants. You people just cannot accept defeat. Loosing is a part of life. All you Hillary supporters who said you were voiting for MCCAin if she is not the nominee or veep go ahead cut off your nose to spite your face and who gives a rat's behind. If you like George Bush"s policies and want them to continue please go ahead. I assume you are all super rich and can pay for all the increases that will continue under John MCCain.

[Spesabsquemetu]

UNITY through ACTIONS that UNIFY!

RELEASE YOUR DELEGATES TO SENATOR OBAMA!!!

Let actions that unify be the model that sets the standards for unity in the democratic party, Sen. Clinton.

RELEASE YOUR DELEGATES TO PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE OBAMA!!!

[MizFlagPin]

The NY delegation just broke camp during a press conference headed up by Charles R. They've thrown their full support behind Ba-rack.

[SeriousBlack]

Excellent!

[Spesabsquemetu]

Until Sen. Clinton releases ALL her delegates to Sen. Obama, her speeches about "unifying the party" are meaningless.

[mnash]

yeah, now if they can get rid of Jones and Shultz!!!!!!

[jmwtex]

Unity through actions that unity. Stop denigrating a former president and democratic senator. Stop acting like Republicans and say that you are not divisive while you continue to spew all this divisive language toward Clinton and her supporters. What is wrong with you people???? Do not see your candidate kissing up to her. Did you see him today. Follow his lead and starting saying nice things.

[falcao]

What an exhausting presidency her's would have been. Drama and reading of the tea leaves on the part of the public 24/7. We've suffered enough. Hillary wears me out.

[LegalCat]

Friday. We'll concede on Tuesday. Wait, actually we won't concede on Tuesday, because we need some time to process things and, you know, decide what it is we really, really want. We'll do it Friday. Friday for sure. Wait a second, did we say Friday? Friday won't work. Can't concede Friday, Friday is fridge cleaning day, always has been, busy all day Friday. Saturday looks good. On Saturday we'll concede. Definitely Saturday.

[standforpeace]

And it just so happens that no one is watching on Saturdays. However, I think Hillary will be surprised at how many Americans will turn on their tvs just to hear her state the obvious.

[Trill]

LegalCat....You made me LAUGH. Very Clever.

I think that what Hillary wants to do is this: Wait until the convention and when the delegate balloting begins, hope that the pledged and superdelegates will switch and switch back to HER. Has this ever happened at a convention after the presumptive nominee has been named?

Could it happen? We're dealing with the Clintons, you know.

[zoozey]

....and to think, she was the one "qualified" to answer the phone at 3:00 a.m. She hasn't even had time to "process" even though dhe knew it was over for days, if not weeks. Thank God all the candidates weren't such prima donnas.

[LAR1969]

It's irritating as hell that the pundits (and others) are saying that 0bama can't put Sebelius or Napolitano on the ticket without enraging the HRC camp. The "reasoning" being that if you're going to pick a woman, you have to pick HRC.

So now other qualified women will be excluded because of HRC antics?

[MizFlagPin]

Just because she demands, doesn't mean we must concede. MSM and Hilllary treat Ob-ama's supporters as if we don't have power. It's all about what she and her supporters want. What about what's best for our party and nation.

Hillllary's narcissism encourages us to work harder to win without her and her selfish supporters.

[LAR1969]

I agree. It's just the "demanding" that's making me nuts!