Obama: “I Am the Democratic Candidate”
Published in La Repubblica
(Italy) on June 4th, 2008
by Mario Calabresi (link to original)
Obama: “I am the democratic candidate”
But Hillary: “I will not make a decision tonight”
Clinton: “Congratulations Barack,” she takes time and does not recognize the defeat “I am ready to unify the party.” Negotiations are on the way for the “dream ticket.”
WASHINGTON – Senator Barack Obama will be the first African American in history to run for President on Election Day in November. The American media (even the most cautious CNN) has declared the majority party ticket, showing that Obama will run for President at the White House. Shortly after, his victory in Montana was declared.
Barack will celebrate this day with a victory speech in Minnesota. This departure leaves no space for doubt and it triggers his supporters: “I am the democratic candidate to the White House.” He followed by an appeal to the party “to unite against McCain.” He praises Clinton and dedicates to her most of his speech (“A leader who has inspired millions of Americans with her strength, courage and her untiring will to improve the American people’s lives. Our nation and our party are better because of her”). However there is no formal proposal to make her run along with him in the presidential campaign. Obama further added: “America, it is time to turn the page.”
Nevertheless, the knot is still tied for Democrats. Hillary Clinton congratulates Obama during her final speech in New York, but she does not recognize his victory. She declares herself ready to join the party, but she takes time taking her next steps (including the candidacy as a Vice-President): “It has been a long campaign, but I will not make a decision tonight.” Meanwhile, after thanking all of those who have supported her during the race, she congratulates Obama and his supporters “for having conducted an extraordinary race.” She further added: “I am now engaged in unifying the party to conquer the White House.”
She stated–-by thanking her voters-–that winning the primaries in South Dakota was a moral satisfaction. In a turn of events, she showed her availability to run as Obama’s Vice, as long as this would be requested during a face to face encounter within the next few hours.
The ex-First Lady, who dreamt of becoming America’s first woman President, has kept America with suspended breath during this race. In the past few days, some controversial suggestions have leaked from her entourage, suggesting some chaos which seems to have come with, what somehow was, an inevitable candidacy. It seems that she had previously recognized the defeat, even though she decided to wait one more day to officially leave the race. However, these controversies have been denied by her spokesman. Later on, some voices infiltrated that there was a frenetic exchange of phone calls to discuss the terms of the closure of her race.
The main point of this day lies within the numbers. Everybody knows that most of the two hundred undecided delegates are ready to take Obama’s side. Barack lead a last minute pressing to convince some of those delegates to make a decision. This job has given way to a good outcome: since the early morning, there have been many support declarations for Obama, pushing him towards the 2.118 quota, the winning number. Deputy James Clyburn warned his colleagues that, after five months, it was time to declare the end of the democratic race. Within the following hours the number of delegates on Obama’s side increased, and a very important name also joined, ex-President Jimmy Carter.
But Hillary: “I will not make a decision tonight”
Clinton: “Congratulations Barack,” she takes time and does not recognize the defeat “I am ready to unify the party.” Negotiations are on the way for the “dream ticket.”
WASHINGTON – Senator Barack Obama will be the first African American in history to run for President on Election Day in November. The American media (even the most cautious CNN) has declared the majority party ticket, showing that Obama will run for President at the White House. Shortly after, his victory in Montana was declared.
Barack will celebrate this day with a victory speech in Minnesota. This departure leaves no space for doubt and it triggers his supporters: “I am the democratic candidate to the White House.” He followed by an appeal to the party “to unite against McCain.” He praises Clinton and dedicates to her most of his speech (“A leader who has inspired millions of Americans with her strength, courage and her untiring will to improve the American people’s lives. Our nation and our party are better because of her”). However there is no formal proposal to make her run along with him in the presidential campaign. Obama further added: “America, it is time to turn the page.”
Nevertheless, the knot is still tied for Democrats. Hillary Clinton congratulates Obama during her final speech in New York, but she does not recognize his victory. She declares herself ready to join the party, but she takes time taking her next steps (including the candidacy as a Vice-President): “It has been a long campaign, but I will not make a decision tonight.” Meanwhile, after thanking all of those who have supported her during the race, she congratulates Obama and his supporters “for having conducted an extraordinary race.” She further added: “I am now engaged in unifying the party to conquer the White House.”
She stated–-by thanking her voters-–that winning the primaries in South Dakota was a moral satisfaction. In a turn of events, she showed her availability to run as Obama’s Vice, as long as this would be requested during a face to face encounter within the next few hours.
The ex-First Lady, who dreamt of becoming America’s first woman President, has kept America with suspended breath during this race. In the past few days, some controversial suggestions have leaked from her entourage, suggesting some chaos which seems to have come with, what somehow was, an inevitable candidacy. It seems that she had previously recognized the defeat, even though she decided to wait one more day to officially leave the race. However, these controversies have been denied by her spokesman. Later on, some voices infiltrated that there was a frenetic exchange of phone calls to discuss the terms of the closure of her race.
The main point of this day lies within the numbers. Everybody knows that most of the two hundred undecided delegates are ready to take Obama’s side. Barack lead a last minute pressing to convince some of those delegates to make a decision. This job has given way to a good outcome: since the early morning, there have been many support declarations for Obama, pushing him towards the 2.118 quota, the winning number. Deputy James Clyburn warned his colleagues that, after five months, it was time to declare the end of the democratic race. Within the following hours the number of delegates on Obama’s side increased, and a very important name also joined, ex-President Jimmy Carter.