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

[Pammy1151]

Bill will NOT pass the vetting process.

[Dadoodaman]

Which is why we were suspicious of Hillary's claim that she was "fully vetted." Fours things:

- pardons
- library donors
- fundraising donors
- current mistresses

Last, as the contest showed, she herself did not pass vetting for her Iraq War vote, speech and non-apology.

[zoozey]

Exactly. That same Fox News Right Wing media that was embracing her would have let go of all that crap had she been the nominee. They have been salivating for 8 years to get her as the nominee. Her ego fell right into their web. They would've literally made a mockery of her as nominee. Why did Karl Rove retire last year? I am not saying they would be right about everything, but I saw and felt the attacks during the 90's. No self-respecting Dem should have to go thru that again. I am not saying that they will not do similar to Obama. But let's face it, they are more scared of him than they are Hillary.

And you know, no self-respecting Dem would turn to the Right Wing for support now. Are you listening Hillary?

Hillarybots--you wonder why get mad at her? We are the ones who defended her against them in the 90s--the same ones she got in bed with the last several months.

[Dadoodaman]

Right. Several issues:

- pardons
- library donors
- fundraising donors/quid pro quo deals
- known current mistresses (people have names and numbers)

Also, the nomination itself demonstrates that Hillary did not pass vetting for her Iraq War vote, speech and non-apology.

[Bozwellian]

...in truth, there are some issues in which Hillary herself would have difficulty passing the full vetting process...seem to remember , there is an issue or two due this fall that is heading to court and sticky for Hillary......perhaps another has the fuller details.

[NotMcCain]

Plus, how could Obama have a VP whose spouse is a PAID LOBBYIST for a foreign government? (Bill's $800,000 from Colombia to lobby for CAFTA, to name just one of his problems).

[Dadoodaman]

Over on talkingpointsmemo.com is a posted letter to be distributed by Clinton this evening, which begins:

"I wanted you to be one of the first to know: on Saturday, I will hold an event in Washington D.C. to thank everyone who has supported my campaign. Over the course of the last 16 months, I have been privileged and touched to witness the incredible dedication and sacrifice of so many people working for our campaign. Every minute you put into helping us win, every dollar you gave to keep up the fight meant more to me than I can ever possibly tell you."

What jumps out at me of course is "helping us win." Combine this with the fact that she avoiding the term "conceding" and using "suspending" the campaign, and you get the picture.

She cannot acknowledge she lost.

Note to HRC supporters: words matter. If you wonder why she is still being "hit," look no further than this, which exemplifies her entire campaign.

[Gma11]

I don't have a problem with this. I also want US to win. And I sincerely hope Hillary will be an important and vital part of US.

Obama isn't going to allow her to dominate. He's already moving on. I was so impressed yesterday with how PRESIDENTIAL he appeared at AIPAC, in the Senate "talking" to Liebermann, and with the choices he is making.

Hillary is a drama queen. That has certainly been amply demonstrated the last few months!! There's room - and need - for all types of personalities in the Democratic tent.

[Bozwellian]

..It is also "leasked", SHE WILL NOT WAIVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE HER NAME SUBMITTED AT THE CONVENTION...she is STILL in it to try and win it !!!
(think long and hard folks..she claims 18million voters/supporters but asking for others to "retire her debts"...seems those 18million she claims and dangles as if she control, should be able to chip in say 2 or 3 dollars a piece and retire their gals debts post haste !! Of those 18million, supposedly a smaller contingency that declare they will NEVER VOTE OBAMA and would vote McBush b4 Obama...OK, they have issues but are not good at reality if they fail to comprehend that the policy differences between Obama and Clinton are minute in comparison to what McCain offers and if they truly do feel their only option other than Hillary is McC..well, nuff said !! As for the truer majority of those 18million she claims, IF they truly want the basics of what Hillary proffered/pandered to them, then they WILL vote Obama whether she on the ticket or not just for PRACTICALITY AND REALITY REASONS !!

[Soothsayer08]

Thank God Charlie Rangel etal told her it was time to stop the madness, as they were very displeased with her actions tuesday night. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid sent ther a letter advising the same thing. First it was going to be Friday, now it's Saturday. I'll believe this when I see it. I also won't be surprised if she tries some kind of a drama ploy to keep the attention on her.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

She can't do it tomorrow.

40th Anniversary of R F K.

Especially after what she said a couple of weeks ago...

[Gma11]

This is so important for all Obama supporters to note. The Dem party will not let Hillary pull any additional stunts that will hurt the party. The primary if OVER!

[Bozwellian]

The SINCERETY of her finally "suspending" is noted by the factor that she has also stated she will do nothing to BLOCK anyone from placing her name up at the Convention in Denver !!!.....Suspension only, she has NOT QUITE and she and Bill still figure ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN between now and then so their "foot" is still jamming the door !!!

[BassMent]

Hillary bowing out?

As Rachel Maddow said last night, I will believe it only when I hear the word "endorse" actually come out of her mouth.

[gladys46]

Hear it and see a signed affidavit!

[Dadoodaman]

She will endorse him. But she will NEVER concede to him.

[Dadoodaman]

She will not end her campaign and concede that Obama won, she will "suspend" her campaign and support his, at least until/unless he is assassinated or his electability comes into question. Then she will "un-suspend" it..

[Taaj]

HRC on ticket with Obama, it will never happened. His message would lose all of its credibility, and just like her supporters are decreasing with her lost, his supporters will decrease with the Clintons. I believe he is too smart to trade loyal supporters, for supporters who may wish him harm or hardship so their preference can become President.

Therefore, I am not worried. Barack Obama is a political leader not another politician. There is a difference, watch!

[MizFlagPin]

United States citizens have a vested interest in helping to perfect our imperfect union. It is not O.b.a.m.a's job to cure this nation of its apathy. If those voters who are now being held hostage by Hilllary's campaign refuse to shake loose of her death grip, then they are guilty of not exercising their ability to help affect change.

It is disrepectful of Hilllary to lock her supporters in the dugeon from which she spoke Tuesday night in order to use them as leverage for a VP bid. The VP is a choice our candidate will make, not the runner up.

[AggravationKills]

Amen! for lack of a better word.

[obamagal]

Absolutely.

Sadly, if we are to believe what the media is telling us, Hillary's sense of entitlement and "I-ism" is turning out to be her worst enemy.

There's a very interesting and enlightening article in the NYT and on MSNBC's website that looks at reasons for her loss, in part, from the viewpoint of superdelegates.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24980329

Respectfully, it might be in Hillary's best interests to instruct all surrogates to stop providing the media with sound bites because they want to keep the story going for as long as possible. It is in their best interests to do so.

The headline on HuffPo, right now, (Tom Edsell: Running for V-P) is one example of what I mean and I suggest none of us buy into it. Instead, let's stand back and see what happens during the next few days, weeks. This fanning of flames will only delay the healing that must take place in the Democratic Party.

[Gma11]

Very interesting article, obamagal. Thanks for the link.

It does certainly verify what many of us perceived - the enormous pressure the Clintons (especially Bill) were putting on superdelegates.

I've found it fascinating that Hillary seemed to sincerely believe "her" superdelegates would stay with her even after the Obama victory. As Russert noted last night on television, she seriously and completely underestimated and misunderstood their desire to immediately support Obama on his clinching the nomination.

[condew]

The main problem with Hillary is that Republicans will turn out in large numbers to vote against her, and she brings that negative to any ticket she is part of.

[Bill3rdterm]

That's such BS, you act like Repub's are going to stay home against the Liberal Obama? Wake up and stop buying all the BS talking points of Pundits.

[gladys46]

Since Hillary manufactured this polarization, her penance for this offense to the democratic party should be that she criss-crosses the nation convincing "her base" that she absolutely lied and that she repents for zapping their brains and that it's actually about the nation and they should please forgive her her selfish campaign strategies please!

Otherwise, may she forever remain insignificant!

[johnqdemocrat]

The following link is a must read for all voters (not just women)!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080605/COL10/806050422

[AMJordan]

If they want to keep brining their children home in body bags, go right ahead and vote for McC.

[gladys46]

Hidden, unceremoniously, in the dead of the night ... sooo awful Bush, Inc. hides our wounds until they've sanitized them!

[nonofyabusiness]

Maybe the repugnants can run one of Feaux's bimbos

[TruepatriotinRI]

Thanks for the link. Excellent article!

[Gma11]

Exactly. Women in America NEED an Obama victory at this point.

[steffi]

The reason she's doing all of this on Saturday is so the Media can fawn all over her on the Sunday talk shows and start all the VP speculation.

[HadEnoughCrap]

She is an attention whore of the worst kind.

[Gma11]

I prefer to think of her as a drama queen.

That's the term my college students tend to use.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Can't do it today or to morrow because of the R F K anniversary.

Especially after what she said in the past couple of weeks.

[LisainNYC]

Bullsh*t. She had no problem bringing up RFK's untimely death when it benefited her (or she thought).

[obamagal]

Volvo, again, the sound of reason. I agree.

[Dadoodaman]

Actually it's just the opposite: Saturday is the news cycle used to bury a story--it's the day that news is least followed. The Sunday morning talk shows are for a VERY small audience.

[LaFeminazi]

Nightmare scenario

McCain / Lieberman win.

McCain drops dead in week 2.

Lieberman President.

Eeek pass the vomit bag.

[RobertaInCT]

Stock up on plastic and duct tape........

Uncle Sam needs you............

Welcome to Canada........

[nonofyabusiness]

Yeah, the campaign he's going to have to run to even try to compete could kill him.... (lol for the stresses of the Job) It's going to be a battle of attrition.....

[Gma11]

Wouldn't pass the Republican criteria.

[hugs4u]

After the way she ran her campaign, her political career should be dead.

[dartagnan]

This is kind of funny ... the following story appeared on the front page of my local paper this morning:

When Bill Clinton stepped onto the stage at Bend High in March, Central Oregonians flocked from all over to hear the former president’s case for why they should vote for Hillary Clinton in the May primary.

But two months later, the Clinton campaign has failed to pay the Bend-La Pine Schools for the space, and the school district has been forced to pay two sign language interpreters used at the event out of its own budget.

“I don’t know if it surprises me, but it disappoints me,” said John Rexford, the Bend-La Pine Schools’ assistant superintendent of operations. ...

According to Rexford, the Clinton campaign has yet to pay its $1,384 bill, although the district has sent two invoices.

[Gma11]

Getting to be a familiar story.

[ObamaismyHero08012]

Terry McAuliffe is on CNN right now telling the world not to believe the hype. HRC has the delegates to take her over the finish line come August and she is going to wait untill she makes her case in Denver. Look Hillary has 18 million votes, Obama has blah blah blah like 15 million votes. STFU already.

[nonofyabusiness]

How odes this guy get any air time? Bribary and gifts CNN just won't let go.....

[MiddleRoad1]

The fugly shirt and rum doesn't hurt

[Gma11]

The corporate media needs to fill air-time. No white woman been abducted lately?

[Hopeforward]

You have got to be kidding. Terry does know that e-mails have been sent out by the Hillary camp doesn't he (one posted on TMZ)? or, did he bring his bottle again this morning to take shots from? that man is in denial.

[Hopeforward]

Sorry, I meant the e-mail was posted on TPM

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[AMJordan]

This kind of garbage, especially that speech she made the other night, is what brought Ken Salazar off the fence. I thought he was going to build a nest up there.

[abby4ever]

I don't understand. Has the delegates to take her over the finish line? Obama has gone over that line already. Obama won.
Having said that, I have noticed that not once has Hillary used those words, but has skirted around them.
I don't trust her. But I will trust our party to control her in Denver. If it doesn't and she steals it away from Obama, if our party lets her do that, that is the day I become an Independent.
As I've said before, I will not belong to a party that either simply allows or simply cannot stop, nomination theft. That stands back and lets one person steamroll it.
No way.

[majorteddy]

Certain people in the Clinton campaign have been pumping up the hype that Clinton could come back from her delegate deficit. She was also deeply in debt as far back as Feb. 5 , Super Tuesday. This should have been a telling sign. There has been a little bit of reality introduced by one of her campaign staffers who called her Clinton campaign backers in the Senate and asked that they do something to get her out of the race before she did any further damage to her image. Now Bob Johnson, a very serious Hillary backer has started a campaign to convince Obama to put her on the ticket. While that idea may have some good points, it also has some bad points.She has negatives and he has negatives and together cumulatively, they start to be a real problem.Also a problem are the Clinton Library contributions that have not been disclosed and some of Bill's business dealings for speaking and consulting fees. These have not been disclosed and if the Obama camp asks these questions, which would be asked of any VP nomineee, there are some questions as to whether Bill and Hillary would be interested in disclosing that.

[onelife1]

Hillary has fooled me a couple of times. I'll believe it when I see/ hear it.
Is she going out with conditions/ strings???

[kanglecap]

This is indeed a sad day for The United States. Obama is in no way WHO or WHAT he appears to be. Obama supporters will come to see, and in the very near future I might add, that they have all been seriously “taken in” by this guy. Not only would Obama be ineffectual as president but would be, for many and varied reasons, a huge liability!

But then we’ve been tolerating an inept president for sometime now and in spite of what all you Obama supporters seem to believe, an Obama presidency would only bring on a DIFFERENT set of problems … problems, as hard as it is to believe, that are more complex, not to mention far more dangerous than the ones we now have!

McCain or Obama? GET REAL FOLKS … IT DOESN’T MAKE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE! All we are doing with these two imposters is choosing HOW we want the next dose of poison delivered to our already deteriorating country!

[MizFlagPin]

Truth hater. Naysayer. A McCain/Bush Hug Buddy.

[sd4peace]

Sorry you feel that way. Emigration is also an option for someone who dislikes their country as much as you seem to.

[RantingTommy]

Actually, Clinton and McCain are MUCH closer on policy.

Nice try tho, sour grapes.

[abby4ever]

I don't see how anyone who saw and heard his speech yesterday, could say that he will be ineffectual as President.

[blueinannarbor]

I'm curious: What problems do you see arising from an Obama presidency, and also how and what do you know that Obama supporters do not about Obama the imposter?

[eaglecapri]

' "a deal-breaker" -- Bill Clinton MAY BALK AT RELEASING RECORDS OF HIS BUSINESS DEALINGS AND BIG DONORS TO HIS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY.'

Obama is so F'in smart! If Bubba DOES release all records, the contents will allow the maxi fems and older Clinton supporters to understand his decision and vote for him. (There's nothing that can be done for her racist supports...so we'll move on.) And if he DOESN'T release them, the speculation of the contents will do the same. Love it! I hope he accompaniess the VP rejection with a speech! ;O

HRC should've left that man long ago. Oh well, the price to pay for power.

[Flagal]

If she had left him years ago she could actually be considered a feminist. Of course then she likely wouldnt have risen so high in politics. But you never know maybe she would have risen higher.

[MiddleRoad1]

Yeah, Obama handled that one beautifully, convincing me again that he will be the best possible President