Beltway Happenings  ...1 of 4 >
June 7, 2008--Several days after the last primaries, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) suspended her campaign and forcefully endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) in a speech at the National Building Museum.  "Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it," Clinton declared, alluding to the 18 million votes she garnered during the five-month long primary season.  "I will work my heart out to make sure that Senator Obama is our next President and I hope and pray that all of you will join me in that effort," Clinton stated.  Some in the audience, which included her most steadfast supporters, said the would follow Clinton's lead and support the Democratic ticket, but others expressed reservations.  [transcript"I need some time, and I want Barack Obama to earn my vote," stated Bonnie Bon Giorno of Chambersburg, PA.
Rosemary Straley of San Diego, a retired UNESCO employee, is national coordinator of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Support Network, started in 1992.  She said that the nominating system needs to be reformed.  "It's not a democracy," Straley said, pointing to her experiences with the caucuses in Iowa and Nevada.  Straley campaigned for Clinton in Cedar Rapids, IA (she left for Iowa the day after Christmas and knocked on doors in the ice and snow), North Las Vegas, NV and Pittsburgh, PA.                      ...more

 
Copyright © 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action