BREAKING NEWS: Dean, Pelosi, Reid set Friday deadline for superdelegates' choices, move to force end to Clinton bid

With the final primary concluded barely hours before, top Democratic Party leaders in Washington early this morning ratcheted up the pressure to force all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their choice of candidate known by Friday -- and thus end the now hopeless, onetime front-running campaign of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The joint statement was obviously pre-planned and timed for issue shortly after Clinton refused to concede the presidential nomination victory to Barack Obama, who's gained sufficient delegates to clinch the party's nomination.

Howard Dean, right, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, chairman of the Democratic Governors Assn., issued the brief statement for unity just minutes ago:

"The voters have spoken," they said, adding later, "Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election. To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week, so that our party can stand united."

The carefully worded statement, which does not urge the superdelegates to go one way or the other, is a clear step to force an end to the effort by Clinton, who said Tuesday she would take a few days to consider her options and protect the voices of the nearly 18 million voters who cast ballots for her in recent months. Her hand is now being forced by the Friday deadline.

The move is also a sly one politically, since it leaves Obama free of any appearance of forcing Clinton to quit and thus alienating her millions of supporters, whom the Illinois senator will badly need in the general election come Nov. 4.

In exit polls throughout the just-concluded primary season, an unusually high number of Clinton voters indicated they were likely to reject Obama and vote for the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

A complete text of the Democratic Party leaders' joint statement is available by clicking the "read more" line below.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credit: Associated Press / Manuel Bolce Ceneta

     Joint Statement by Democratic Leaders on the End of the Presidential Primary Process

"We have come to the end of an exciting primary and caucus process -- the voters have spoken.  As the Democratic leaders of the Senate, House of Representatives, the Governors and the Democratic National Committee we commend all of the participants of the 2008 primary process, especially Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, for making this such a transformational election. 

"Because of the enthusiasm our candidates have inspired, our party has brought record numbers of voters to the polls, gained millions of newly registered Democrats and now has advantages in states many thought were difficult to win.  We are grateful to the millions of Independents and Republicans who have crossed over to vote for a Democratic candidate for President.

"Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election.  To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted superdelegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week so that our party can stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country.

"We once again congratulate all of the candidates for their leadership and dedication to providing this country with a New Direction. We look forward to working with them and with all Democrats to win the White House, congressional seats and state capitals so we can deliver the change the American people deserve and demand."

Comments

[kayB]

How dare these political hatchet men tell HRC to stand aside? She has more than 18 million Americans backing her and is a major leader in the Democratic Party. She is the best candidate for president, better than McCain and Obama rolled into one. If the party leadership can not see that, then she should become an INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE and crush them both!!

[ted in pdx]

As a Republican leaning towards Obama, when Hillary started to speak last night, it sounded like she was going to finally seek the high ground and accept defeat gracefully, and do the one thing which could have redeemed her for all the ugly vitriol she has injected into this campaign. When she finished, I felt like I'd been made a stooge once again. The boundless narcissism of this woman leaves me wishing she would simply disappear entirely from our politics, even though I recognize her energy and her expertise. Even more so when I heard Barrack Obama's very gracious comments and appreciation for her best qualities.

Someone on CNN made this observation about last night: McCain attacked Obama, Hillary was focused entirely upon herself, and Obama talked about the future of this country. I can only hope he decides to leave Hillary to her singular preoccupation, and selects a running mate like him, and not her.

[Pat]

I would like to thank the speaker and Mr Ried and Mr. Dean tfor giing us at least 4 more years of republican rule in this coountry. I have always been a democrate but now I WILL for the first time vote repubican just because these 3 assholes wount let the people do the voting.. Good luck getting anything done in congress the next 4 years.. as they said in the movies.........STUPID IS ,......STUPID DOES WE NOW TURN YOU OVER TO THE 3 STOOGES

[George]

HRC is a cancer to the Democratic party. She lost and now she is trying to strong arm her way into the VP slot. Clinton supports vote against your own interest in the fall if you choose to that is your right. Hillary will be calling President Obama for a pardon after the Peter Paul v Hillary and William Clinton case goes to trial her in California in the fall. Since she wants all of you to writer her ask her about the 1.2 million dollars campaign finance fraud case scheduled for the fall of this year.

CNN probably won't post this because they have tried to confuse people with non-since and they are fully aware of this pending case. The Republicans would eat her for lunch if Obama puts her on the ticket.

[Kithara]

It's the "Ed"s of this country (see above) that gave us eight years of George Bush.

[Ron Winship]

Face it...Obama is a phenom......like Stockard Channing...
like...Derek Jeter....like...Tiger Woods....like anyone that
breaks ground and makes history! If he chooses the
right Conservative White Male Running Mate...he could
be one of America's Greatest most popular Presidents!

[Steve Baum]

I am not really a Democrat nor a Republican. A 60 year old marrried baby boomer my wife and I vote for who we feel is the best genuine candidate at the time. UNFORTUNATELY, this year is a big letdown for us. SO FAR, from watching the coverage day & night we feel that AMERICA'S RACIAL DIVIDE STIRS ALIVE STILL TODAY IN 2008. We expect THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS TO PROVE how much BLACKS RESENT WHITE as well as WHITES still resenting BLACKS. It is a real shame.
This year, we will NOT be voting. GOD BLESS AMERICA but 20 years of listening to Trinity United Church affirm OBAMA as either "DUMB" which he is NOT or as he puts it a 46 year old "ORGANIZER" who is hiding anti-white resentment FOR NOW.

[C Firsbay]

All of you who posted about Hillarys arrogance and her self centeredness are correct-amundo - she beleived strongly that she couldn't lose and couldn't do no wrong. the irony is that belief cost her the nomination. Thank Goodness.

When I first heard of her years ago when Bill was running I read and article that when she was 16 she started planning -not thinking about but actually conceiving of a plan to become the first female president.

I knew nothing else about her other than that was pretty sick. Her and Bill combined are pretty sick people.

[D. Madsen]

I cannot support mirrors and smoke Obama. Clinton has been malaigned this entire process. And you cannot discount all the voters who support her. I will not vote for Obama unless CLinton is on the ticket.

[SDF]

HRC's current behavior is exactly why I couldn't support her. I believe her motives are self serving and she is out of touch with reasonable behavior. Does anyone remember the look on her face during the state of the union address following 9/11, a time of unprecedented national unity? Sour.

[Texasfan]

Hillary is allowed to leave the race gracefully. Sheesh!

Dean, Pelozi and Reid are being too pushy about this process.

I have been a Democrat forever but because of how rude they are being, I will be voting for McCain this time around.

[Tim]

Ed,

"Howard Dean is a failure and a DNC chairman, Nancy Pelosi is a failure as the Speaker of the House after having high hopes for a strong leadership, she caved into to G.W. and Harry Reid may have been an amateur boxer and is an amateur senator who can't get anything done. Where do they come off telling Hillary Clinton who is tougher than all three of them put together? Hillary will be a factor in this election and she's earned it. If the DNC stiff arms her I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country. "

Stop crying. We, America, think Obama will make a better president the Hillary. How about you join our country.

[Ich]

It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t concede. The game is over; unless we start making new ones, Hillary has run out of states. At the end of the fourth quarter, if you’re down by 10 points – you loose. Your concession isn’t necessary. It doesn’t matter if you really want to win, it doesn’t matter if you want to keep playing; the game is over.

I hope HRC continues with her vulture policy and insists on remaining on the field. The more she refuses to be graceful the less politically viable she will be in the future. Hopefully this will be her only presidential bid. I would like to see this stunt hurt her when she runs to keep her seat in the Senate. I think this is too much to ask though. You cannot underestimate Clinton survivability.

[Disgusted Democrat]

Posted by: Alessandro Machi, blah, blah, blah, caucus are bad, blah. Listen, I dare ou to go to one of these states and tell the people that their selection process is illegitimate. I dare you! But you won't, as you're a coward who loves to spit out garbage about democracy being thwarted, all the while actually working against it. Clintonista's remind me of Communists. Everything is ok, as long as you select her! So, why was Bill Clinton such a fan of caucuses? Reason, because at least he had skill. Hillary is a hack! A not talent, borderline communist, narcissistic HACK, that lost a campaign to a new guy! The pure fact she has a vagina is not a reason for her to be POTUS, there must be skill, and judgment, and she is sorely lacking in each. I look forward to hers and the rest of the Clinton's political demise!

[Ryan]

For the first time in almost 20 years I am not voting this time. This primary process has left it clear that democracy does not exist in this country. It has also made it clear that the "CHANGE" Obama keeps insisting upon is not change at all.
Biased irresponsible journalism constantly in the news, unconstitutional election processes, hatchet jobs, sexism, misogyny. That is what this primary was all about. It's the same way Bush won the election twice. I see no "CHANGE."
What I saw was a strong powerful candidate that ended up on the wrong end of a smear job. That is what pisses me off. Obama did not win this race, it was handed to him by people stronger than he is.

[JOHN LONGENECKER]

Way to go Obama!

[McGee]

I will never vote for Obama. Hillary forever. What a shame. McCain will get my vote. I have been Democrat for all my life. It's a shame a women can never stand a chance in a man's world. Hillary could change that all for us she is so strong.

[Tony]

I like that. HRC should run as an independent now... This will make the race more interesting...:)

[Tim]

JJ,

"Clinton got the majority of the popular vote and a very similar proportion of the pledged delegates as Obama but now the powers that be are throwing their weight for the candidate they think they can control. "

Well, for starter she didn't get the majority of the vote. It may have been close depending on what math you use, but the only way she is ahead is if you count votes for hillary that she doesn't diserve(all the michigan votes) and you dont count the votes in the caucus states(which cant be counted). Basically, if you fudge the math you can make it look however you want, Clinton is good for telling a long fairy tale without actually lying.

[jon]

Pretty amazing, how many people think like Ed... "I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country."
I can only hope, people like Ed wake-up, because it's analogous to a steer saying, "I don't want to die, but I sure like the color of that slaughter house's walls."
As for anyone saying that Hillary won the popular vote, it just shows that the Dems have as many non-thinking sheep, as the GOP. The only way HC won the popular vote, is if you don't count most of the caucuses, and think nobody in the State of Michigan would have voted for him, had he been on the ballot. Just because someone says something, doesn't mean it's true.
And by the way, I voted for Hillary in the primary - - I'd really like to see a woman Pres.
I suspect some of the anti-Obama sentiment, among Hillary voters, is racially-based, unfortunately. Just remember, electing McCain is in essence, ensuring 2 or 3 more Roberts/Alitos on the Supreme Court.

[Martine Joseph]

"Howard Dean is a failure and a DNC chairman, Nancy Pelosi is a failure as the Speaker of the House after having high hopes for a strong leadership, she caved into to G.W. and Harry Reid may have been an amateur boxer and is an amateur senator who can't get anything done. Where do they come off telling Hillary Clinton who is tougher than all three of them put together? Hillary will be a factor in this election and she's earned it. If the DNC stiff arms her I'll vote for McCain even if it's not what I want to do and it would be bad for the country. "

Wow! so you are willing to have the country in the worst position that it already is because government figures are askingto unite as soon as possible so we can fight the one that mess up the country.

One question I want to ask you who will benefit from you voting for McCain instead of a democrat, not Hillary she has millions in the bank, not Obama he also have some millions in the bank whop right is struggling to pay for bills, to put gas in their car, to get healthcare, who is stying home because their job has been move overseas?

Wake Americans and stop this madness, stop taliking likeyou are stupid, the only one who will get hurt by voting for McCain is you not the candidate just you.

[freedom_diva]

I am so sorry that Hillary is not going to lead this country out of the dilema that Bush has gotten us in. I am also sorry that Barrack Hussin Obama might be the nominee...He will try to make this country a ghetto.

[Cos]

All you Hillary supporters are unbelievable. You remind me of a bunch of rabid, ignorant republicans. Your candidate made mistakes and lost. So what do you want to do? You want to take your ball and go home. That's just childish! You are either complete idiots or your republicans in disguise. Either way the only person who wins is McCain. As for Dean, Pelosi, Reid, their biggest problem is they don't have the courage to stand up and be counted themselves. It's time for Hillary to step aside and her supporters to get behind our nominee. Obama/? '08

[Jerry]

Go Hillary! Run as an independent! You can do it girl. GO, Go, Go.

[laura in KY]

As I volunteered for the campaign here in KY, I was struck by the sheer nastiness of the Obama supporters. As evidenced here in this post. McCain supporters were civil to us...Obama people were profain and harrassing, taunting us and physically destroying signs just yards from where we legally stood, spreading our message. The police were called, but the young hoodlums were gone. These new young voters are too idealist, like Obama. Too untried and untested. These new young voters are unaware of the huge block of older voters who are just unable to vote for a black man. It's just a societal reality.
Real change would be a woman in the oval office for the first time in history, but the good ole boy network will not allow it. They want that young black guy to push around, and they already are. They are afraid of Hillary's power, and well they should be. If I can't vote for her for president, I'll vote for her for vice president. If Obama doesn't have the sense to do that, she'll be my write in choice, or my independent. I won't stand behind a Democratic party that does not support the will of this voter!