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Support stays strong for Hillary Clinton Thursday, Jun 5, 2008 By Aaron Sadler Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - Just like he has for months, Rep. Marion Berry was scheduled to talk up Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign on Wednesday. But hours after Barack Obama apparently secured the Democratic presidential nomination, Berry didn't have much to talk about. "You can see how much good all that campaigning I did was," Berry deadpanned at a Delta regional economic development meeting. Berry, D-Gillett, and the state's other Democrats in Congress said they thought Clinton would be a good running mate for Obama, the Illinois senator who cinched the nomination after a grueling primary battle. Berry criss-crossed the country on behalf of the former Arkansas first lady and spouse of the man who kick-started his political career. Subdued on Wednesday, he paused before he said whether he would enthusiastically support Obama in November. "I'll support the Democratic candidate," he said. "I've got to tell you, my enthusiasm has been drained to the bottom of the tank. I'm going to have to recoup and hopefully get a chance to rest just a little bit." Berry went to what he said were "a bunch" of states and made several speeches a day for Hillary Clinton. Berry worked in the Clinton White House before he was elected to Congress in 1996. He said it was still possible that enough superdelegates could change their minds to keep the Democratic race in doubt. Superdelegates, certain elected officials and party leaders, are not pledged to support a particular candidate. "I underline possible. It's not probable at all," he said. Clinton scored an overwhelming primary victory in Arkansas, where she earned 70 percent of the vote. As a candidate with nearly 18 million overall votes in the primaries, Clinton would be an asset to Obama's ticket in the Natural State and elsewhere, Berry said. "I think in Arkansas, for sure, and I think nationwide, it would be to his benefit to have Sen. Clinton," Berry said. "I think right now under the current political circumstances that exist, and that changes every minute, he needs her, a lot." Clinton has not officially conceded defeat or pulled out of the race, and her Arkansas backers said they would be behind her as long as she remains in the contest. "She's part of our Arkansas family," said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott. "It would be rude for me to change my support from Sen. Clinton to Sen. Obama while she's still in the race." Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said she needed a few days to assess her options, and both said Clinton would be a strong vice-presidential pick. Ultimately, though, Lincoln and Pryor said they shouldn't be involved in any decision. "They'll have to look at what the strengths and weaknesses of their campaigns are and what their strategies have been and whether those things mix well for success in November," Lincoln said. "I think it's more important for them to discuss that than it is for me to make predictions." |
