Clinton bows out of race Saturday

CNN

Hillary Clinton, once viewed as the favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination, suspended her quest for the White House on Saturday.

She threw her support behind former rival Barack Obama, who already has put his sights on presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

As her 2008 bid for the presidency came to an end, Clinton said her new goal is getting a Democrat elected in November.

"The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand, is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States," Clinton said.

Earlier in the primary race, Clinton faltered in Iowa, and gradually saw her super delegate lead slip away.

Clinton's supporters have pressured Obama, now the presumptive nominee, to pick her as his running mate.

The Obama campaign said they won't be rushed into a decision. One task ahead for Obama will be getting Clinton supporters to switch their support to him, including those left angry by the primary campaign.

Meanwhile, political battles lie ahead with presumptive GOP nominee John McCain. Obama has repeatedly said his differences with Clinton are minor in comparison to his disagreements with the Arizona senator.

Obama released a statement Saturday saying he was honored to have Clinton's support, and praised her campaign as quote "valiant" and "historic."