DPA
Washington, June 7 (DPA) Hillary Clinton was set to exit the US presidential race Saturday and endorse presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, who earlier this week clinched his party’s nod for the general election. At an event before hundreds of supporters and reporters in Washington, Clinton was expected to call for party unity after a bitter five-month battle that saw a series of state primaries held across the US.

Obama and Clinton met privately Thursday night to discuss a way forward and secure victory for the Democratic Party in November.

Obama had formally launched his general election campaign earlier in the day with a series of rallies in Virginia after capturing the nomination Tuesday.

At the early stages, a tight race was expected between the 46-year-old Illinois senator and presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, aged 71.

Supporters chanted “Hillary” at the National Building Museum in Washington shortly before the former first lady and New York senator was set to take the stage.

Clinton is still a possibility for the vice presidential slot. Polls show a majority of Democrats support Obama picking his former rival, creating was has been dubbed the “dream ticket”.
DPA