May 06, 2008
"We Will Be United In November"
Buoyed by a big win in North Carolina and what appears to be a narrower-than-expected loss in Indiana, Barack Obama turned his attention to the general election tonight, making a pitch for a united Democratic Party come November. The primaries are not quite over, Obama said, but the evening's contests in IN and NC hardly proved the game changers his rival promised.
"This has been one of the longest, most closely fought contests in history," Obama said. "And that’s partly because we have such a formidable opponent in Senator Hillary Clinton. Tonight, many of the pundits have suggested that this party is inalterably divided – that Senator Clinton’s supporters will not support me, and that my supporters would not support her. Well, I’m here tonight to tell you that I don’t believe it. Yes, there have been bruised feelings on both sides. Yes, each side desperately wants their candidate to win. But ultimately, this race is not about Hillary Clinton, it’s not about Barack Obama, it’s not about John McCain. This election is about you – the American people – and whether we will have a president and a party that can lead us toward a brighter future."
Obama returned to the theme that carried him to a string of early state victories and gave him the edge in the Democratic primaries: change.
"The question, then, is not what kind of campaign they’ll run," he said referring to the GOP, "it’s what kind of campaign we will run. It’s what we will do to make this year different. I didn’t get into race thinking that I could avoid this kind of politics, but I am running for President because this is the time to end it.
"We will end it this time not because I’m perfect – I think by now this campaign has reminded all of us of that," he added. "We will end it not by duplicating the same tactics and the same strategies as the other side, because that will just lead us down the same path of polarization and gridlock. We will end it by telling the truth – forcefully, repeatedly, confidently – and by trusting that the American people will embrace the need for change – even if it’s coming from an imperfect messenger."
Obama noted that tonight's results bring him to within 200 delegates of the nomination. His strong performance has already prompted renewed chatter about the possibility of a joint ticket with Clinton. And the call for unity is not without critical cause; Clinton won whites tonight, Obama was supported by the vast majority of blacks. The fastest route to healing the deep demographic divisions between those supporting Obama and Clinton, is to bring the two candidates together, despite the hard feelings and improbability of their partnership.
In his rhetoric alone tonight, Obama seemed cognizant of the possibility.
"I love this country too much to see it divided and distracted at this moment in history," he said. "I believe in our ability to perfect this union because it’s the only reason I’m standing here today. And I know the promise of America because I have lived it."
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted at 09:11 PM
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