Suspend And Endorse

Hillary Clinton endorses Barack Obama emphatically ...

"The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passion and our strength and do everything we can to help elect Barack Obama the next president," she said.

But Clinton is interrupted with loud applause and some deep and undeniable booing.

"As I suspend my campaign I congratulate him on the victory he has won ... I endorse him and throw my whole support behind him. ... And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me."

Clinton said that she has served in the Senate with Obama, that she has gone "toe-to-toe" with him in 22 debates. "I have seen his strength and determination, his grace and his grit," she said, noting that Obama has lived the American dream.

"This has been a tough fight, but the Democratic Party is a family," she added.

And this: "We might have started on separate journeys, but today our paths have merged."

(JS)