The End of the Road
This Saturday, Sen. Clinton will end her campaign with a speech to supporters.
June 6, 2008— -- On January 22, 2007, Hillary Clinton confirmed in a web video what many had speculated about for years – she was throwing her hat in the Democratic presidential race.
"I'm in and I'm in to win," the New York Senator said in a video on her campaign web site. (We don't even need to note the address, she has done that on every voting night.)
At the time, Clinton led her closest opponent, Barack Obama, 41-17 in an ABC News/Washington Post poll. Over the next year political pundits declared her unstoppable, inevitable and the likely nominee. But something funny happened when the calendar flipped to 2008 – Obama won Iowa and crushed Clinton's glow of inevitability. The Obama campaign's strategy of targeting delegates, not battleground states, worked and he built an insurmountable lead in what counted in winning the nomination.
And so tomorrow afternoon in Washington D.C., after more than 50 nominating contests, 35 million votes, hundreds of events, countless handshakes, a fight over delegates and a few days to huddle with senior staffers and supporters, Clinton will suspend her presidential campaign.
Pundits and reporters will be paying close attention to what Clinton says about Obama, the now presumptive nominee. What will she say to urge and promote party unity? Will she echo her speech on Tuesday night and focus on her own journey or look ahead to Obama's journey through the general election? Will "hillaryclinton.com" come up? How about one more shout out to the "pundits and the naysayers?"
The farewell began today at Clinton's home in Washington DC. Campaign staffers gathered for a party of sorts and Clinton thanked them for their work and for putting their lives on hold over the long campaign.
Check out the best of the Clintons on the campaign trail – Hillary and Bill.
As Clinton bids farewell to her presidential run, the general election starts on the airwaves.
John McCain launched a major ad buy in swing states today, sober ads consisting of McCain talking directly to the camera about war and service. The ad will air in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, Colorado, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, West Virginia and Minnesota.
ABC News' Ron Claiborne and Bret Hovell report that the ad is "notable for its direct engagement of McCain's war record, something the Arizona Republican and presumptive presidential nominee had been reluctant to use in a political way."
He also uses the ad to reject a notion held by some on the left that McCain is a warmonger. "Only a fool or a fraud talks tough or romantically about war..." McCain says in the ad. "I hate war, and I know how terrible its costs are."
The campaign raised over $20 million in May and a senior McCain advisor tells ABC News that McCain will have enough money to remain on the air consistently in swing states through November.
Barack Obama was scheduled to have three days off but the news of Chicago's selection as one of the four finalists for the 2016 Olympic Games got him out of his house and down to a celebration rally at Daley Plaza. Obama glimpsed into the future saw more than an Olympic celebration in Chicago, ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports.
"In the interest of full disclosure, I have to let you know that in 2016 I'll be wrapping up my second term as president," the hometown Senator said to a cheering crowd. "So I cant think of a better way to be marching into Washington park alongside Mayor Daly, alongside Rahm Emanuel, alongside Dick Durbin, alongside Valerie Jarrett as President of the United States and announcing to the world, 'Let the games begin!'"
Could this weekend's Fox News Sunday give a sneak peek of the vice presidential debate this fall? Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is the McCain campaign surrogate opposite Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, on behalf of the Obama campaign. Both Pawlenty and Kaine are mentioned in veepstakes conversations so the dynamic on Sunday could be interesting to watch.
On the campaign front. . .
Saturday, June 7, 2008
BARACK OBAMA
-- No public events, Chicago, IL.
HILLARY CLINTON
-- 12:00 am ET: Attends event with supporters, Washington, DC.
As for the Republicans. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- No public events scheduled.
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- No public events scheduled, Camp David.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
BARACK OBAMA
-- No public events, Chicago, IL.
As for the Republicans. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- No public events scheduled.
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- No public events scheduled, Camp David.
Monday, June 9, 2008
BARACK OBAMA
-- 11:00 am ET: Attends event at North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC.
As for the Republicans. . .
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 5:30 pm ET: Attends fundraiser in Washington, DC.
-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends fundraiser in McLean, VA.
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Kate Snow: Obama, Clinton Ditch Press for Secret Meeting LINK
ABC News' Ron Claiborne and Bret Hovell: New McCain Ad Targeting Swing States LINK
ABC News' Kate Snow: Clinton Sneaks Out To Meet Obama In Washington LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: DeLay: Obama's A Marxist LINK
ABC News' Sunlen Miller: Obama Celebrates Chicago's Olympic Bid LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Biden's Shadow Campaign LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: RNC Calls Obama a Former "Street Organizer" LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Did Obama Shift On Warrantless Wiretapping? LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: "3 AM for Feminism" LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: In Spain, Edwards Says El No Es Interesado In Vice Presidency LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper: Clinton-Backing Congressman Says Clinton Camp Pushed Racist Strategy LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM
Hillary Highlights from '08 TrailSen. Clinton's best hits on the trail during her historic quest for the W.H. LINK
Bill's Place in '08 RaceFormer President Bill Clinton's best hits on the 2008 campaign trail. LINK
'The Note' Rewinds the Week's Best MomentsABC's Senior Reporter Rick Klein on the weekly political roundup. LINK
Clinton and Obama Meet Privately A secret rendezvous of the former rivals has the political world abuzz. LINK
A Secret MeetingSens. Obama and Clinton sneak away from press corps and hold a secret meeting. LINK
Kennedy Family Remembers RFKFamily and friends mark the 40th anniversary of the late Robert Kennedy's death. LINK
Feinstein Divulges Secret Meeting DetailsSen. Feinstein answers questions about the Obama-Clinton meeting at her home. LINK
Let the General Election BeginSens. McCain and Obama jockey for early position as Clinton falls back. LINK
McCain: Underdog in '08 RaceAriz. senator sees energizing Independents and "Reagan Democrats" as key to win. LINK
Bush Addresses Economic ConcernsBush considers new measures to strengthen economy, acknowledges slow growth. LINK
Kimmel: Hillary vs. Oprah Will these female heavyweights battle it out for Obama's respect? LINK
Kimmel: Obama's Whitest MomentsJimmy tries to persuade Caucasian voters to support Barack Obama. LINK
Presidential Pop The Jones Soda company introduces labels bearing candidates' likenesses. LINK
Chuck Schumer on Hillary ClintonSenior senator from N.Y. talks about colleague he supported through primaries. LINK
Inspiration Is Barack Obama channeling the spirit of Robert F. Kennedy? LINK