Nominee Obama’s Praise For Clinton
BARACK Obama set out to unite the Democratic Party yesterday - and heal any rifts with Hillary Clinton.
The 46-year-old Illinois senator made history as the first black person to be nominated for the US presidency by a major party.
Obama will now face Republican John McCain in November’s US general election to decide who will be the 44th president of the United States.
He came under immediate pressure to consider Clinton as his running mate.
She gave a speech in which she appeared to wield her power and influence, rather than concede defeat or suspend her campaign.
She told colleagues in her home state of New York that she would be willing to become Obama’s vice-presidential candidate - if it would help Democrats win the White House.
Both Clinton and Obama spoke at a conference of the American Israel public affairs committee in Washington DC.
Obama praised the former first lady, criticised McCain and tried to reassure the Jewish leaders in the audience over his foreign policy.
He said that rumours that he was unfriendly to Israel were unfounded. To applause, he said: “I will never compromise when it comes to Israel’s security.”
In her speech immediately after Obama had finished, Clinton said: “Let me be very clear, I know that Senator Obama will be a good friend to Israel.”
She went on: “And let me underscore, I believe we need a Democrat in the White House next January.”
But Clinton made no mention of officially ending her campaign.
She also criticised president George Bush and McCain as she said: “America needs a new beginning in our foreign policy.
“It would make our country stronger and make our position in the world more credible, to give us our strategic leverage back that we’ve lost over the last seven years.”

dailyrecord.co.uk