Hillary: Barack and I are on the same team
Wednesday, 27 Aug 2008 16:38
Hillary Clinton urges supporters to back Barack Obama
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Hillary Clinton has urged her supporters in the strongest possible terms to back former Democratic rival Barack Obama for president.
Appearing at the party's convention in Denver, Colorado, Mrs Clinton said the "time is now to unite as a single party".
"We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines," the New York senator, who lost to Mr Obama in the race to become the Democrat candidate for the White House, said.
"This is a fight for the future. And it’s a fight we must win."
Illinois senator Mr Obama, who will address the convention in person on Thursday, is currently neck and neck with Republican presidential nominee John McCain in opinion polls in the United States.
The weeks leading up to the convention had been dominated by claims embittered Clinton supporters were threatening to vote for Mr McCain instead of Mr Obama.
Mrs Clinton, whose two-term former president husband Bill will address the convention on Wednesday, described Arizona senator Mr McCain as a colleague and a friend but warned another Republican president would "squander the promise of our country and the hopes of our people".
Speaking in a convention centre festooned by banners displaying the motto "unity", Mrs Clinton continued to tell attendees: "You haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership.
"No way; no how; no McCain - Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president."
She added that Mr Obama would revitalise the country's economy and respond to foreign policy and environmental challenges, while a McCain administration would lead to economic stagnation, less affordable healthcare and less alternative energy.
Click here to read the full text of Hillary Clinton's speech
Mr Obama, currently campaigning in Montana, reportedly told journalists Mrs Clinton had made an "excellent... strong speech".
"She made the case for why we're going to be unified in November and why we're going to win this election," Mr Obama explained.