Clinton Reacts to Edwards Withdrawal

By: Fernando Suarez
Topics: Hillary Clinton

(CBS)

From CBS News' Fernando Suarez:

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. -- Hillary Clinton reacted to fellow Democrat John Edwards' withdrawal from the presidential race today saying that she is unclear on how this affects the race between her and Barack Obama leading up to Super Tuesday.

"I don't know I'm going to leave that to the political pundits and writers," she said adding, "Now is a time to really thank him for his service and to recognize the sacrifices that it takes for any family to go through a presidential campaign and to keep he and Elizabeth and his family in our thoughts and prayers as they move forward."

She also said she hasn't specifically asked for his endorsement "because I think that this is up to Sen. Edwards to decide how he is going to participate, if at all, in the ongoing campaign. We talked this morning he told me we were making this announcement and I wish him well."

When asked if she was concerned about whether Edwards' white supporters would now back Barack Obama, she tried to shift the focus away from race saying, "I'm not concerned with anything like that. That's not what this campaign is about. Its about reaching out to voters everywhere, each and every voter I'm trying to persuade to support me. I'd be honored to have the support of those who supported Senator Edwards. We're going to have a vigorous campaign and then we'll get a nominee and then we will close ranks and be unified and bring our party and our country together."

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by swf1960 January 31, 2008 8:11 AM EST: EDWARDS: "I don''t know how it started," he said. "I don''t know when our party began to turn away from the cause of working people%u2026" It started when we were forced to choose between Hillary and Obama! Edwards epitomizes the democratic party and yet we are forced to address an obstruction of unification. Dam Hillary - Dam Bill! Edwards suspends his campaign... I apologize for not walking precincts all over the nation for this guy! I am forced to address the immediate ill, the Clinton ILL, a divisive polarization within the democratic party. Although I love Edwards, I am thankful for Obama. He personifies unification and eloquence, and a sound mind! If we ever get past the primitive BS of polarization, perhaps we can progress towards issues like Universal Health Care and services for the poor. Obama, please bring on board Edwards. Please, please, please! We are ONE.; Reply to this comment


by jaykay221 January 30, 2008 11:43 PM EST: Obama better not tarry too long being reactionary to Hillary - he needs to get back on positive message too - back to where he started before the low blows hit him about.; Reply to this comment


by hrmac2 January 30, 2008 8:15 PM EST: negative remarks? this?

obama''s statement: John Edwards has spent a lifetime fighting to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling, even when it wasn%u2019t popular to do or covered in the news. At a time when our politics is too focused on who%u2019s up and who%u2019s down, he made a nation focus again on who matters %u2013 the New Orleans child without a home, the West Virginia miner without a job, the families who live in that other America that is not seen or heard or talked about by our leaders in Washington. John and Elizabeth Edwards have always believed deeply that we can change this %u2013 that two Americas can become one, and that our country can rally around this common purpose. So while his campaign may end today, the cause of their lives endures for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America.; Reply to this comment


by hrmac2 January 30, 2008 8:06 PM EST: negative remarks? this?

obama''s statement: John Edwards has spent a lifetime fighting to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling, even when it wasn%u2019t popular to do or covered in the news. At a time when our politics is too focused on who%u2019s up and who%u2019s down, he made a nation focus again on who matters %u2013 the New Orleans child without a home, the West Virginia miner without a job, the families who live in that other America that is not seen or heard or talked about by our leaders in Washington. John and Elizabeth Edwards have always believed deeply that we can change this %u2013 that two Americas can become one, and that our country can rally around this common purpose. So while his campaign may end today, the cause of their lives endures for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America.; Reply to this comment