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Clinton urged to drop out
29/03/2008 19:11 - (SA)
Steven R Hurst
Washington - A veteran US senator is calling for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton to abandon the race, for the sake of the party, and rival Barack Obama has harvested an unexpected endorsement - winning support from a moderate Pennsylvania senator, three weeks before the state primary.
Senator Patrick Leahy, an Obama supporter, chairperson of the powerful Judiciary Committee and six-term lawmaker from the tiny northeastern state of Vermont, became the first senior member of the upper chamber of the US Congress to publicly recommend Clinton drop out of the race.
"Senator Clinton has every right, but not a very good reason, to remain a candidate for as long as she wants to. As far as the delegate count and the interests of a Democratic victory in November go, there is not a very good reason for drawing this out," Leahy said in a statement issued on Friday.
Campaigning in Indiana, Clinton said Leahy was wrong.
"There are millions of reasons to continue this race: people in Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina, and all of the contests yet to come," Clinton told reporters.
"I believe a spirited contest is good for the Democratic Party and will strengthen the eventual nominee," she said. "We will have a united party behind whomever that nominee is. ... I look forward to campaigning over the next several months."
Clinton had a series of campaign events scheduled on Saturday in Indiana and Kentucky which do not hold their primaries until May. Obama was continuing a bus tour through Pennsylvania, the site of the next contest on April 22.
In Obama's favour
Democrats are voicing increasing concern the extended and divisive Clinton-Obama battle is leaving the field open for Arizona Senator John McCain. The presumptive Republican candidate has stood alone as the party standard-bearer since March 4, when former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee left the race.
Leahy said Obama's delegate lead appears to be insurmountable and noted the endorsement by Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey signalled the race had clearly turned in Obama's favour.
Casey's endorsement was unexpected and could boost Obama's standing with Catholic voters, who make up more than 30% of the state, and among white working-class voters known as "Casey Democrats". Casey is the son of a former governor known for his opposition to abortion and support of gun rights.
Clinton routed Obama among working-class voters in Ohio and Texas on March 4 and holds a double-digit lead in recent polls of Pennsylvania voters. A victory there could substantiate her claim of momentum in the race even as she lags behind in delegates and the popular vote.
Obama, a first-term Illinois senator, holds a 1 623 to 1 499 edge in delegates, including both those pledged as a result of state primaries and caucuses as well as superdelegates - elected and party officials who can vote for whomever they wish.
Obama could add to his delegate lead on Saturday when the final results of Texas' Democratic caucuses are announced after county and state Senate district conventions are held. Nine delegates remain to be allotted.
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