Aug 24, 2008 6:12 pm US/Pacific
Hillary Clinton Praises Biden In Fresno Speech
FRESNO (AP) ―
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Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
In her first speech since Barack Obama chose Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate, Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday offered praise for her former rival's pick.
Clinton told union delegates at the United Farm Workers' constitutional convention that Biden is "a good man, a wise man, an experienced man."
"I know him very well, and I know he has been on the front lines of the fight for social and economic justice his entire time in public service," Clinton said. "So I ask you to work as hard for Senator Obama as you did for me."
The UFW billed Clinton's speech as part of the labor group's "push for Obama." The three-day event, held every four years, is a regular campaign stop for Democratic politicians.
Obama's chief political strategist David Axelrod told the Associated Press Sunday that Clinton is going to be an "important voice" in the campaign.
With a cadre of union members shouting "unite, unite, unite for the struggle," Clinton smiled and shook hands as she walked to the stage at the Fresno Convention Center. On stage she hugged dozens of supporters, smiled and posed for photographs.
During the first 10 minutes of her 15-minute remarks, Clinton thanked the union that had endorsed her campaign for the work members had performed, and recalled some of the union's struggles for which she had lent support.
"I know how hard farmworkers work, and you worked hard for me in this campaign," she said, before turning her remarks to the Obama campaign.
"I have campaigned with him for more than 16 months, I've debated him and I've watched," Clinton said. "I've seen his passion and determination, his grit and his grace, and I know that he has lived the American dream. And now it is time for us to have a president again who believes that every person is entitled to be given the chance to fulfill his or her dreams and that is what Senator Obama will do as our president."
Clinton's speech came as Republican presidential hopeful John McCain's campaign readied television ads questioning Obama's decision to pass over Clinton as his vice-presidential pick. The ads show Clinton criticizing Obama during their long Democratic presidential primary battle.
A Democratic official told The Associated Press on Sunday, a day before the Democratic convention begins, that Clinton is expected at a Wednesday reception to release her delegates to vote for Obama. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss details publicly.
When asked by the Associated Press after the speech what her plans were for her delegates, Clinton paused for a moment, smiled and continued shaking hands with supporters.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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