memeorandum: IT'S OFFICIAL: CLINTON TO EXIT Will express support for Obama, party unity (The Raw Story)

3:25 AM ET, June 5, 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: Political Radar, CNN, Buck Naked Politics, Comments from Left Field, Wizbang, Political Machine, The Democratic Daily, Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, Liberal Values, Tom Watson, MyDD, Wonkette and Truthdig

Adam Nagourney / The Caucus:

Clinton to Suspend Campaign, Endorse Obama — Updated | 10 p.m. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will endorse Senator Barack Obama on Saturday, 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: CNN, TIME.com, Ben Smith's Blogs, Talking Points Memo, Jack and Jill Politics, Crooks and Liars, The Field, Newshoggers.com, The Stump, JammieWearingFool, The Impolitic, TalkLeft, Donklephant, PoliBlog (TM), LiberalOasis and skippy the bush kangaroo

MinnPost:

Clinton supporters wowed with warm reception at Obama rally — REUTERSSen. Hillary Rodham Clinton — By Doug Grow | Wednesday, June 4, 2008 — Sad but resigned, key supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton joined the thousands on hand to celebrate Sen. Barack Obama's historic night.

Discussion: The Democratic Daily

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: Portfolio.com, The Caucus, MyDD, Pam's House Blend, BlueOregon, The Democratic Daily, AMERICAblog and Spin Cycle

David Alexander / Tales from the Trail:

Hamas unendorses Obama after speech to pro-Israel lobby — WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may have taken care of his Hamas problem onWednesday with a speech to the AIPAC pro-Israel lobby. — The Illinois senator was ridiculed, criticized and generally harassed …

Discussion: The Caucus, Political Punch, Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, Sister Toldjah, Marc Ambinder, Liberal Values and Capitol Briefing

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: CNN, Women For Fair Politics, The Trail, THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™, Real Clear Politics, Political Machine, Top of the Ticket, Liberal Values, FP Passport, American Street, Ben Smith's Blogs and TPM Election Central

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
GOP roots for Clinton

Discussion: Hot Air

Greg Wallace / Political Radar:
Rangel: Clinton should get on with it — ABC News' Kate Snow Reports …

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

ABCNEWS:
Clinton to Concede Race to Obama Friday

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, The Caucus, Swampland and Wake up America

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

Discussion: New York Times and The Swamp

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

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

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 …

Hindrocket / Power Line:

THE MOST WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE STATEMENT EVER? — Barack Obama's friend, financier and political supporter Tony Rezko was convicted by a Chicago jury today on sixteen counts involving various forms of political corruption. Obama released this statement:

Discussion: PrestoPundit

WLS-TV:
Rezko begins serving time immediately

Discussion: Rezko Watch

New York Times:
Ex-Obama Fund-Raiser Is Convicted of Fraud

Discussion: THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS and NewsBusters.org

Jeralyn / TalkLeft:
Rezko Guilty Verdict: The Relevance

Discussion: WBBM-TV and myfoxchicago.com

Fox News:
Obama ‘Saddened’ by Rezko Verdict

Discussion: The American Mind

Jackie Calmes / Wall Street Journal:

Clinton Unlikely as No. 2 — Concession Expected Saturday; Obama Camp Discounts VP Talk — WASHINGTON — Supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton suggested she would like to be Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, but close advisers to Sen. Obama are signaling that an Obama-Clinton ticket is highly unlikely.

Discussion: Donklephant

Hilary Bok / Washington Monthly:

HISTORY... I didn't support Barack Obama because of his race. I didn't need to: I just thought he was the best candidate by far, mostly for wonky reasons. (I started down the road to supporting Obama when I read this sentence from a Washington Monthly article: “On the campaign trail in 2004 …

Discussion: Eschaton

CBS News:

CBS Poll: Obama Leads McCain — Obama Ahead By Six Points; But Many Clinton Voters Plan To Back McCain — (CBS) Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama holds a six point lead over his Republican counterpart John McCain, a new CBS News poll finds. Obama leads McCain 48 percent …

Discussion: Daily Kos

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: The Raw Story, Megan McArdle and Newshoggers.com

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

Discussion: The Agitator

Jill Lawless / Associated Press:

Excitement about Obama spreads around the world — LONDON (AP) — Excitement about Barack Obama emerged as a global phenomenon Wednesday as commentators and citizens around the world welcomed the news that he had sealed the Democratic presidential nomination.

Discussion: Commentary and GINA COBB

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: RADAMISTO and skippy the bush kangaroo

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: The Campaign Spot, Hot Air, American Spectator, Lonewacko and Whiskey Fire