Clinton joining Obama on Dems' candidate list

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is embraced by former President Bill Clinton before singer Elton John (not pictured) performs at Radio City Music Hall in New York during a campaign fundraising event, Wednesday, April 9, 2008. (AP photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton’s name will join Barack Obama’s on a list of candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, a gesture of unity also aimed at mollifying her supporters, who Obama needs as the race for the presidency tightens.

Less than two weeks before the Democratic convention, polls showed a tight race between Obama and Republican John McCain, who has caught up with his Democratic rival as he portrays him as a foreign policy and national security lightweight and a “celebrity” akin to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Obama, who is the first black presidential candidate of a major U.S. party, is seeking to appeal to Clinton’s base of women and white working-class voters, some of whom are leaning toward McCain.

Some of Clinton’s voters felt the New York senator’s White House bid was thwarted by sexism and media bias. While polls show Obama has won over a majority of her backers, some simply do not like the first-term Illinois senator.

The announcement last Thursday by the Clinton and Obama camps was a clear step in trying to bridge that divide by placing Clinton’s name in nomination at the Aug. 25-28 Democratic National Convention in Denver. Delegates would then be allowed to cast a vote for Clinton in what would be a largely symbolic roll call vote.

A statement by the two campaigns said Obama supported the move as “a show of unity and in recognition of the historic race she ran and the fact that she was the first woman to compete in all of our nation’s primary contests.”

Obama has also given both Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, prime speaking slots during the convention. All that ensures an enormous presence for the couple who have been national fixtures in the Democratic Party since 1992.

Clinton will speak on Aug. 26, the second night of the convention. The next day, the state-by-state roll call of her name will take place.

(p2)

+ Add Comment

Aug 20 1:27am by Kathryn N. Cunningham [65.217.255.2]

Every person of color should open their eyes and see the Clintons for who they truly are...race baiters! Pres. Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton never thought that "white' America" would vote for a black man. The Iowa caucus opend the door for Sen Barack Obama to win the contest with Clinton coming in 3rd behind Sen. John Edwards..it took Iowans to open the eyes of Black America and 90% of us jumped on the "Obama bandwagon"...In anger, Bill Clinton started to flip that race card...it started in New Hampshire...Pres. Clinto also forgot that blacks supported and voted him into the presidency...black folkss were also behind him when the House of Representatives impeached him for his extra marital affair with a White House intern...Someone needs to tell Pres Clinton that he does not own the "black vote"... black folks didn't warm up to his wife neither! The Clintons have the gaul to take over the majority of the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week...they are bitter, hateful whinners because they can't bear the fact that a black man beat them in the 2008 Democratic Presidential race...NOW is a predominately white, women organization who won't give up or support the presumptive nominees which is Sen. Obama because a black man was nominated over a white woman...racism has truly raised its ugly head here in the Commonwealth and all across this nation...I am ashamed to be an American because white folks aren't ashamed to admit that racism is the only reason why they won't vote for Senator Obama for President. How many times have black people voted for white politicians both male and female on the local, state, and national levels with no experience at all?