Hillary Clinton asks Democrats to rally behind Barak Obama

Hillary Clinton's Speech at the Democratic National Convention

Synopsis

Remarks of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as prepared for delivery, during the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 26, during the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo.

Aug. 26, 2008

I am honored to be here tonight. A proud mother. A proud Democrat. A proud American. And a proud supporter of Barack Obama.

My friends, it is time to take back the country we love. Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines.

This is a fight for the future. And it's a fight we must win.

I haven't spent the past 35 years in the trenches advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care, helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women's rights at home and around the world . . . to see another Republican in the White House squander the promise of our country and the hopes of our people.

And you haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership.

No way. No how. No McCain.

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Careless Quip by Hillary Clinton

'You Get Careless': Obama Blames Clinton RFK Quip on Stress of Long Campaign
Obama Says He Accepts Clinton Explanation of Controversial Comment
By TAHMAN BRADLEY, KATE McCARTHY, JOHN COCHRAN and MICHAEL S. JAMES
May 24, 2008


Sen. Barack Obama gives Hillary Clinton the benefit of the doubt that she had no hidden meaning when she invoked the assassination of Bobby Kennedy as an explanation for remaining in the Democratic presidential race.
Clinton Kennedy Obama
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., mentioned the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's assassination in defending why her race against Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has continued to June.


"I have learned that when you are campaigning for as many months as Sen. Clinton and I have been campaigning," he told the Puerto Rico radio station Isla, "sometimes you get careless in terms of the statements that you make. And I think that is what happened here.

"Sen. Clinton says that she did not intend any offense by it," he added, "and I would take her at her word on that."

Clinton's remarks to the editorial board at the Argus Leader in South Dakota Friday struck some nerves partly because it came in the wake of Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy's health problems and because of longstanding concerns about Obama's security.

"People have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa," Clinton said Friday. "I find it curious because it is unprecedented in history. I don't understand it.

"You know, my husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary sometime in the middle of June. Right?" she added later in the conversation. "We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. You know, I just-- I don't understand it."

The remarks initially prompted a less-gracious response from the Obama campaign Friday. Campaign spokesman Bill Burton said the remarks were "unfortunate."

Clinton soon apologized, saying she meant no offense.

She was backed up by a supporter, Robert Kennedy, Jr. who said in a statement: "It is clear from the context that Hillary was invoking a familiar political circumstance in order to support her decision to stay in the race through June."

Today, the Rev. Al Sharpton talked to Clinton about her remarks and gave her the benefit of the doubt.

"I don't believe that anyone is dumb enough to suggest that something happen to Sen. Obama," Sharpton said.

But ABC News political analyst Matthew Dowd, former chief strategist for George Bush's 2004 campaign, told ABC News Radio that Clinton's remark was a huge political misstep.