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Obama Clinches Democratic Nomination
Clinton to Address Supporters in NYC

2008_06_clintonplane.jpg
Photograph at top of Hillary Clinton making her way from her campaign plane yesterday by Elise Amendola/AP; photograph below of Barack and Michelle Obama arriving in St. Paul by Chris Carlson/AP

According to various projections, Senator Barack Obama is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. The Associated Press said he clinched hours ago, while NBC News just (9 p.m.) has said their projection confirm that Obama will secure the nomination. Obama will be the first black presidential nominee ever.

2008_06_obmi.jpgThe day, though, was more notable for the many, conflicting messages coming from Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign. Earlier this morning, Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe indicated that when Obama received most of the delegates, "I think Hillary Clinton will congratulate him and call him the nominee." Which many took be a sign she was would concede tonight, and the AP also issued a report Clinton would concede. The Clinton campaign denied the report, saying it was "inaccurate and wrong" or "100%" incorrect.

Then a few hours later, on a call with the New York congressional delegation, Clinton said she would be open to being Obama's vice-presidential running mate. She did say she would not drop out of the race tonight, but an NBC News source described Clinton feels "she has earned the right to reflect on what is the best way forward. She wants time to catch her breath and wants time to determine the best way forward."

Clinton is expected to speak at 9 p.m. from Baruch College in NYC. Obama is expected to speak at 10 p.m. Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain just gave a speech in New Orleans, setting his sights on Obama (read the speech here) and seizing some airtime on this big night of Democratic party news.

Update 9:25 p.m.: Clinton is supposed to speak shortly, but in the meantime, NBC projects she will win South Dakota, 57% to Obama's 43%.

9:30 p.m. - Clinton, along with Bill and Chelsea, emerges. She congratulates Obama and his campaign for their hard work and asks her supporters to acknowledge how the Obama's campaign has injected vibrance into the Democratic party. Emphasizes how she led the popular vote. (Crowd heers for Hillary, boos at the world.)

She lists all her successes, credentials. Clinton wants to end the war in Iraq and wants the almost 18 million Americans who voted for her to be respected. She wants universal health care, job creation, etc. Crowd chants, "Denver! Denver! Denver!"

Clinton says, "This has been a long campaign and I will be making no decisions tonight." The crowd goes wild. She urges her supporters to visit her website and says she'll be looking at their suggestions as she consults with others over the the week.

Update 10:30 p.m.: Obama greeted the crowd in St. Paul, "You chose to listen not to your doubts or your fears, but to your greatest hopes and highest aspirations. Tonight, we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another — a journey that will bring a new and better day to America. Because of you, tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States.”

You can read his whole speech here; he praises Clinton and counters McCain's various statements.

And Obama won the Montana primary.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Comments [rss]

  • bklynd

    "McCain will easily offer a new voice to the millions of angry, disappointed, and disenfrachised Clinton supporters. Obama supporters argue that the threat of a Bush III is too much, but on the contrary, the threat of an Obama I is far greater. Inexperienced, untested, unvetted..."



    Oh please. Stop spewing garbage and look at the facts. Obama is intelligent, brave, and he has integrity. His platforms are virtually identical to Clinton's (why haven't you heard about them? Because HRC's campaign made the last three months about petty bullshit.) OTOH, McCain supports a longer stay in Iraq and making the Bush tax cuts permanent. He's a social conservative who will work to restrict womens' reproductive rights, gay rights, and he'll try to stock the Supreme Court with more conservatives like Thomas and Scalia.



    If you think all of that is fine, fine - just admit that you are a Republican after all.

  • Bubba

    "Slick talking politician?" Isn't that just code for "fancy schvartze?"

  • likesrudylikesbooty

    We voted in Jimmy Carter because we were still pissed at Watergate and Nixon/Ford.



    We voted in GW Bush because we were tired of Bill Clinton's antics.



    Now, we're pissed at GWBush, and along comes a slick talking politician from Chicago who is selling hope and promising change. As if, like voodoo magic, the country and the world will be united in one big lovefest and be cured of all its ills.

  • Anna_Merkin

    Bubba, I know what I'd say: that is impossible. Black people almost ALWAYS vote for the Democrats. After Alan Keyes, Tony Brown, and that one other guy, the GOP mostly stopped trying. I mean, Condi and Colin really don't count, since they were appointees. The point is, it would never happen.



    This situation with many of HRC's supporters along with the unseemly behavior of many of HRC's key advisers (i.e., Terry McAuliffe and his suggestion that she'd be open to the VP slot, Bill's tirade and threat to stop campaigning after this election) will be a very big reason that Obama fails in the General Election. If HRC's supporters want to be that petty, then America deserves the leadership it gets. Just like we've had 8 years of a buffoon, we'll have more time with a hot-head who really doesn't have a grasp on economic issues (incoherent tax and budget plans) and who fails to appreciate the complexity of international relations ("bomb bomb Iran").

  • tkchunc

    What's "clinch" mean?

  • Anna_Merkin

    I stand by my prediction that we will have a GOP White House again. There was no case in which a Dem could win this year. HRC would have never beaten McSame. She might have bloodied him a little but he would have Swift Boated her back into the Senate.



    A bruised Obama whose viability is now continually questioned by HRC supporters will fare no better. Plus, there are so many people who will flatly not support a black man (or a half-black man), especially one who is considered "inexperienced."



    It's nice to see history being made; unfortunately, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans when it comes to the future. I hope that Obama does well and at least keeps the race close. I need some change in which I can believe.



    *sigh*

  • Bubba

    Art Stewel, what would you be saying to Obama'a supporters if the roles were reversed? If HRC was the nominee and Obam'a supports were saying that because HRC's not black they're going to vote for McCain instead? What would you say to that?

  • moonbeam

    #40, it's easy to understand once you realize that many of the "Clinton supporters" are actually Republicans who just wanted her to win the nomination so McCain would have an easy opponent. It's not like they ever actually planned to vote for her in the general election anyway.

  • redhookreject

    I just don't get the Clinton people.



    You'd rather vote for a guy who has basically sold his soul to everything he fought against to get the oval office in McSame. A guy who is voicing the very voices that destroyed his character, and making them his brain trust for 08.





    Vs Obama. who basically has the same position on very thing Clinton stands for...



    so why do you think THAT would that be???

  • NYCSniper

    HRC: "This has been a long campaign and I will be making no decisions tonight."



    Fortunately, the decision is not hers to make. The people have spoken. Goodnight, Hill.

  • suepart

    good night hilary.

    unless you can score a VP nomination under mccain.



    adios bill "i did not have sexual relations with that woman ms lewinsky", adios big nose chelsea who couldn't handle the heat when asked about sensitive questions but was out pimping for her mom, adios hilary no experience but got elected to senate ; may we never see you in the public arena again.

  • JMH

    Hillary needs to recognize that she's lost and make a dignified exit sooner rather than later, for the good of the political party that she claims to be a member of.



    The "nationwide popular vote" thing is a big red herring, because:



    A) That's not how the Democratic party nomination system works, nor is it how the Electoral College works, so it doesn't matter, and



    B) In order for her to make that claim, the votes from Florida and especially Michigan need to be counted as they were cast, involving the unrealistic assumption that all the voters in those states if those primaries had been held when they were supposed to and the candidates had campaigned there, the voters would've voted the same way when Obama wasn't even on the BALLOT in Michigan, and



    C) It totally omits caucus states, where Obama has done very well.



    Irrelevant and misleading? Sounds like exactly the kind of thing I'd expect Hillary to be spewing at this point. Seriously, STFU and GTFO.

  • cool

    I think it's funny that Clinton supporters are already parading their "I told you, so"s. It's funny because it's as cool now, as it was when you last used when you were 12. It's also funny because their candidate is doing everything in her power to sabotage the Democrat nominee, which just reeks of class.



    Lastly, it's funny because it is not based on any evidence. If you look at the RCP average, Clinton McCain polling is 46.8/44.6. Obama/Mccain is 46.6/45.2. So the differences in the two spreads is 80 bps. Clinton has shown herself to be bad at numbers, but I'd hope that at least some of her supporters can see the insignificance of that differential five months before an election.

  • babyhitler

    Ain't no way Obama will accept Hilary as a VP. You saw the second season of 24. How could Obama sleep at night knowing half the democratic party wants him dead so Hilary will succeed him as pres? It's a catch 22 for obama. He needs Hilary to win but he'll be shitting bricks for the next 4 years. Obama 08 = McCain 08 = McCain's VP in 09 cause McCain will die.

  • TKaisen

    Why would a Dem or a liberal minded Independent vote for McCain?



    Because his history indicates that he's pandering to the base and will quickly go back to his more independent leanings after he wins the election.



    Old people vote. Young people don't. Strap in for the old guy.

  • dead Elephant

    Why would a Dem or a liberal minded Independent vote for McCain?

    Stop the Drama, Vote Obama.



    DeadElephantClothing.etsy.com

  • Alex

    Who will win back the catlady vote now?

  • Steven

    We have three douche balls of people. Clinton, Obama and McCain.



    Whoever is the next president I hope they aren't as bad as Bush, but then again could they be?

  • holyfrijole

    Obama will not win in November and will ride off into George McGovern oblivion.



    McCain will easily offer a new voice to the millions of angry, disappointed, and disenfrachised Clinton supporters. Obama supporters argue that the threat of a Bush III is too much, but on the contrary, the threat of an Obama I is far greater. Inexperienced, untested, unvetted -- the Republicans will crush him in November.



    I am a Clinton supporter. Even if Clinton were VP on the ticket, I still wouldn't vote for Obama -- he hasn't earned my vote, it doesn't by default go to him. Sorry, but promises of hope and change without the ability to produce is meaningless.



    As soon as Clinton says she's out, then my vote and, more importantly, my MONEY will go to McCain.

  • ANGRYGOD11

    President Obama + VPres H. Clinton = 2 less Democratic Senate seats

    Modern tickets need balance. The last time 2 senators ran together and won was 1960. Obama needs a counterweight from a swing state, not one that's voting Democratic no matter who's on the ticket.

  • slappy

    Obama looked good tonight. Great speech. Hillary also in spite of it all. Can you imagine the pressure she has been through?



    The Dems are doing the right thing for a change.

    They have a good chance.



    BTW, McCain came off like a dumb as ingenuous lout.

    But, then again, so did Bush in 2000 and 2004.

  • natis

    If you honestly think she came to NY to run for the Senate because of a deep and true love of the state and desire to do the best that one can do for the people of NY, then your world consists of rainbows, unicorns and clouds made of cotton candy.



    Had Moynihan not been retiring and let's say that it was Kennedy that was retiring after 2000, she would've been in MA, wearing a Red Sox hat and saying how much she always had a place in her heart for MA.



    Yes, I realize that any politician would take advantage of any situation that would further his or her career, but she did it in such a way that it's disgusting.



    Wesley Clark for VP. We have two wars going on, I'd like to see someone with real military experience be at Obama's side. The Bush administration was nothing but chicken hawks that used Colin Powell for military credibility and in the process nearly destroyed that for him. He was smart to get out of the Bush administration when he did.

  • scott10130

    What none of you seem to get is the point of the convention, it is not a huge infomercial for the candidate. It was where the nominees were chosen. Sometimes someone who had not run in the primaries would by chosen as a candidate.

  • dadoc

    Hell yeah, East River. & if he did pick her as VP he should get a food tester & have her magnetometered prior to interaction. I think Bubba's just afraid of her. If she's declawed, Bill can go back to enjoying himself. I would.

  • NYCSniper

    PS: I don't think I'd want a president as delusional is Hillary "Rotten" Clinton

  • NYCSniper



    Spoiler? Sore Loser?



    What exactly is it when your opponent wins but you refuse to admit that the game is over?



    I had a game of Monopoly with my younger brother like this once... When faced with the fact I'd one, he tried changing the rules, "it's not really over", "if you walk away from this table, then I win", etc.





  • EastRiver

    thinking about the tight confines of that house at the Naval Observatory and four long years of Bill's snoring and meek pawing at her thigh.



    The Clintons have a house in Chappaqua as well as near Embassy Row in DC. Bill has his foundation. As soon as Hillary's campaigning is over (either at the convention or when Barack picks another as his VP or on election day should she be on the ticket) Bill will go back to spending 90 percent of his days in a different time zone from Hillary. You think he'd rather sleep in DC when he can be out scoring chicks with Bono?

  • Art Stewel

    Obama/Clinton is a monster ticket. But it would be maybe the greatest political theater ever, if she continued on and challenged the delegates on the convention floor. That would be some sight.

  • dadoc

    Art, if those women would vote for no candidate other than HRC, or not vote if HRC is not the candidate, what does that say? They reflect a dedication to the lack of a Y chromsome, and care nothing about issues, platforms or party.

    Same with the knuckleheads who wouldn't vote for her because of the lack of a Y-Chrom, or Obama cuz of his melanin content. If a candidate really cared about party/platform/issues, they would, at this time (if not way prior) concede & support for the good of what they state to believe. To do otherwise only reflects personal narcissism and no dedication to principle.

    It's gonna stay interesting in some ways, but is also getting kinda boring, which will likely give us 4 or 8 years of the same BS.



    Dadoc

  • sonyactivision

    He holds his nose and asks Hillary to come on board. She demurs briefly, thinking about the tight confines of that house at the Naval Observatory and four long years of Bill's snoring and meek pawing at her thigh. Then, she says "yes"...because she also remembers Bobby Kennedy bleeding out on that floor.

  • birdmechanical

    "It is a certain that if Hill drops out, then at least 3 women I know will not vote for Obama"



    Well, hopefully then McCain will win and take their right to choose away.



    :P



    Not really, but they should think of their values, not their bitterness.

  • matty

    I think Obama/Clinton would be a powerhouse. That said I trust about as far as I can throw her, which isn't very far.

  • nik13

    She'll make you a cookie. Just don't eat it.

  • Kojak

    If thats the case it becomes a choice of the lesser of two evils. Anti-War Obama vs McCain the War Hawk. I really can't see the Hillary voters staying home. This election is just too important to pout on the sidelines just because their candidate didn't get past the primary.



    Now an Obama/Clinton ticket? That would be something to behold. I'm just afraid that Clinton's presence may rally the Republicans. They really do despise the woman.

  • babyhitler

    Get back in the kitchen bitch! and knit me a sweater.

  • TN

    I heard a rumor that Clinton will offer the VP spot to Obama tomorrow.

  • SP

    If she wasn't a self serving bitch and really cared about the so called disenfranchised women, she would have the courage to admit her defeat and work with Obama, maybe even as the VP, to win the White House. If she doesn't concede now and get behind Obama, she will reveal the truth, that her candidacy never was about reform or even the advancement of women, but only about her own ego and lust for power. I hope she will surprise me.

  • matty

    tenacious.

  • matty

    Clinton is one Tenancious lady.



    We all resepct that but now it is time to conceede. She has a wonderful career ahead of her in politics.



    Time to go, Hillary, time to go.



    Obama 08

  • John Del Signore

    This whole "earned the right to reflect on what is the best way forward" is so transparent. At this point it's all about the Clintons threatening to make things very difficult for Obama if he doesn't name her V.P. Andrew Sullivan has a perceptive take on their gambit here. I really hope he doesn't let them bully their way onto the ticket.

  • Art Stewel

    @Kojak - they are NY'ers, and your point is very well taken.



    But I guess if 3 women in NY, that would ordinarily vote Dem, swear they will not vote for Obama, what will other Hill followers in swing states do. I suspect many will NOT vote for Obama, or not vote at all.

  • nik13

    Never lreally iked HRC, but her tenacity is truly amazing. That's something expected in a leader.



    Obama will not be the next President. Changiness & Hopitude? Pull my finger. LOL

  • Kojak

    "It is a certain that if Hill drops out, then at least 3 women I know will not vote for Obama"



    Luckily If those women are in New York, they get canceled out.



    She'll drop out tonight, if not, tomorrow. Its over.

  • Art Stewel

    It is a certain that if Hill drops out, then at least 3 women I know will not vote for Obama. They will definitely vote for another candidate.



    In addition, if she drops out, many other women won't vote at all - an ironic disenfranchisement of the female vote.



    She should continue on to the Convention and fight it out on the Floor. She should continue the fight and she should not drop out.

  • nomnomnom

    Praise Jebus! The nomination process is finally over! Can we move on to the Obama/McCain cage match now?

  • hungryghoast

    Be careful what you say, Gothamist. The craziest of the Clinton fans might come after you for even implicating such things....

    See what i mean: http://blog.hillaryclinton.com/blog/main/2008/06/03/163233#view_comments

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