memeorandum: Congressional Clinton backers mull letter to Obama (Ben Smith/Ben Smith's Blogs)

9:05 PM ET, June 4, 2008

Top Items:

Clinton Will Drop Out of Presidential Race — Barack Obama Captures Nomination After Intense Democratic Fight — It's over. — Sen. Hillary Clinton will drop out of the presidential race on Friday, ending her historic bid for the White House and ceding the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama, ABC News has learned.

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs, Fox News, Political Machine, Wizbang, Boston Globe, Hot Air, Wonkette and Truthdig

Adam Nagourney / The Caucus:

Clinton to Suspend Campaign, Endorse Obama Friday — Updated | 8 p.m. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will endorse Senator Barack Obama on Friday, bringing a close to her campaign for the White House, aides said. Her decision came after Democrats urged her Wednesday to leave the race and allow the party to coalesce around Mr. Obama.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Jack and Jill Politics, Talking Points Memo, The Stump and JammieWearingFool

Jonathan Freedland / Guardian:

Carter tells Obama: don't pick Clinton — Barack Obama should not pick Hillary Clinton as his vice-presidential nominee, former president Jimmy Carter has told the Guardian. — “I think it would be the worst mistake that could be made,” said Carter. “That would just accumulate the negative aspects of both candidates.”

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs, Top of the Ticket, American Street, Political Machine, The Raw Story and The Moderate Voice

Greg Wallace / Political Radar:

Rangel: Clinton should get on with it — ABC News' Kate Snow Reports: One of Hillary Clinton's most loyal backers on Capitol Hill is voicing frustration about the position she has put her supporters in. — In an interview with ABC News, Rep. Charles Rangel said he thinks it is time for Clinton …

Discussion: Newshoggers.com and The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

New York Times:

Clinton to Endorse Obama on Friday — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will endorse Senator Barack Obama on Friday, bringing a close to her 17-month campaign for the White House, aides said. Her decision came after Democrats urged her on Wednesday to leave the race and allow the party to coalesce around Mr. Obama.

Discussion: The Raw Story, TalkLeft, Taylor Marsh, NewsBusters.org and Rhymes With Right

Hilary Rosen / The Huffington Post:

I Am Not a Bargaining Chip, I Am a Democrat — Senator Clinton's speech last night was a justifiably proud recitation of her accomplishments over the course of this campaign, but it did not end right. She didn't do what she should have done. As hard and as painful as it might have been …

Discussion: The Democratic Daily, The Caucus, AMERICAblog, BlueOregon, Pam's House Blend and MyDD

ABCNEWS:

Clinton to Concede Race to Obama Friday — Former First Lady Prepares to End Historic Presidential Bid — Sen. Hillary Clinton will concede her historic presidential bid Friday at an event surrounded by supporters, a senior Clinton advisor tells ABC News.

Discussion: Swampland

Dan Balz / The Trail:

Clinton's Vice Presidential Campaign — Hillary Clinton is “absolutely ready” to discuss the vice presidency with Barack Obama and has authorized supporters to encourage Obama to pick her if he feels that will help unify the party and help Democrats win the White House, according to Robert Johnson …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, AMERICAblog, Liberal Values, Hot Air, TPM Election Central and Political Punch

Daniel W. Reilly / The Crypt's Blogs:
Obama talks with Clinton, Lieberman

Discussion: New York Times and The Swamp

Ed OKeefe / Political Radar:
Clinton Says Goodbye to Campaign Staffers

Discussion: THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™, TIME.com and Spin Cycle

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Congressional Clinton backers mull letter to Obama

Discussion: Marc Ambinder, Daily Kos, Tales from the Trail and AMERICAblog

CNN:
Can Obama afford to say no to Clinton?

Discussion: TalkLeft

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
Hillary Ally Says She Authorized Him To Launch Campaign To Make Her Veep

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report and Balloon Juice

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:
She's Still Here! — He thought a little thing like winning would stop her?

Discussion: Washington Post, The Politico, Comments from Left Field, New York Post, Real Clear Politics, New York Magazine, Tom Watson, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, Classical Values, Top of the Ticket, NY Daily News, Wake up America, Opinion L.A., protein wisdom and Salon

CNN: Sources: Clinton will suspend her run on Friday

Dick Morris / Real Clear Politics:
No Ménage-à-trois for Obama

Discussion: Commentary

Chicago Tribune:

Rezko convicted of corruption — A federal jury today convicted developer Antoin “Tony” Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. — Rezko's guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts could have broad repercussions for Blagojevich …

Discussion: The Swamp, The Trail, Pajamas Media, Flopping Aces, Hot Air, NO QUARTER, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Think Progress, Rhymes With Right, The American Mind, On Deadline, Gateway Pundit, Don Surber and Wonkette

Natasha Korecki / Chicago Sun Times:
Rezko found guilty on 16 charges, not guilty on 8

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, The Belmont Club, Eye on Rezko and PrestoPundit

Jeralyn / TalkLeft:
Rezko Guilty Verdict: The Relevance

Discussion: WBBM-TV and myfoxchicago.com

Matt Lewis / TownHall Blog:

McCain's Blogger Call Gets Slightly Heated ... I just finished up a conference call with Sen. John McCain, which became heated at times. — When Quin Hillyer of The Examiner noted the perception that some conservatives believe McCain has been disrespectful to them in the past …

Discussion: Hot Air, Marc Ambinder, American Spectator and Lonewacko

HillBuzz:

What's on the Michelle Obama Rant Tape? — Here's what's known so far: — The Michelle Obama Rant Tape was filmed between June 26th - July 1st 2004 in Chicago, IL at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Conference at Trinity United Church: specifically the Women's Event.

Discussion: The Campaign Spot, CANNONFIRE, NO QUARTER, Atlas Shrugs, American Power, No More Mister Nice Blog, Rezko Watch, The Volokh Conspiracy, Confederate Yankee, Gateway Pundit, Wake up America and The Strata-Sphere

Christopher Beam / Trailhead:
Pounds — The presidential campaign—well, one in particular …

Discussion: Balloon Juice, Slog and The Plank

Chris Strohm / National Journal Online:

House Chairman Open To Republican Compromise On FISA — The House Intelligence Committee's top Democrat disclosed late Tuesday that he is ready to accept a Republican-brokered deal to rewrite the nation's electronic surveillance laws, signaling that a long-running congressional impasse ... Wed.

Discussion: Daily Kos, DownWithTyranny! and D-Day

David Dayen / Washington Monthly:
GOOD JOB, NOW GET TO WORK.... I congratulate Barack Obama on his primary win.

Discussion: The Plank

Matt / Think Progress: Reyes open to GOP compromise on FISA.

Sommer Mathis / DCist:

Police to Seal Off D.C. Neighborhoods — Can you say Police State? The Examiner has the scoop on a controversial new program announced today that would create so-called “Neighborhood Safety Zones” which would serve to partially seal off certain parts of the city.

Discussion: Newshoggers.com, Megan McArdle, The Raw Story and The Bellows

Examiner:
Lanier plans to seal off rough 'hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence

Discussion: The Agitator

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

TPMTV: MCCAIN LEAVES FOX SPEECHLESS — If you were awful enough to delight in John McCain's prebuttal speech trainwreck last night, feast your eyes on the Fox News commentators trying to decide if it was just bad or downright terrible ... (Speaking personally, this episode is one you simply do not want to miss.)

Discussion: New York Magazine and skippy the bush kangaroo

Martin Kady II / The Crypt's Blogs:

Not that anyone's watching, but the Senate has shut down — Overshadowed by the hype of Barack Obama's victory lap on the Senate floor today is a simmering dispute between Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell over President Bush's remaining judicial nominees.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Wonk Room, Daily Kos, Think Progress and The Next Right

Sewell Chan / City Room:

‘Assassination’ Artist Is Questioned and Released — This morning, a Boston-born performance artist, Yazmany Arboleda, tried to set up a provocative art exhibition in a vacant storefront on West 40th Street in Midtown Manhattan with the title, “The Assassination of Hillary Clinton/The Assassination …

Discussion: michellemalkin.com, Rhymes With Right, Slog, Wake up America, Gawker, FREEDOM EDEN, Breitbart.tv and New York Magazine

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:

Obama Campaign Will Use Six Consulting ‘Teams’ — Less than 24 hours after securing the Democratic presidential nomination, Barack Obama is putting in place six teams of campaign consultants that will handle advertising, polling and direct-mail efforts for the general election campaign.

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs and TIME.com