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Clinton and Obama in unity talks Clinton and Obama in unity talks
(about 2 hours later)
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is holding a joint fund-raising dinner in Washington with his former rival, Hillary Clinton. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has held a joint fund-raising dinner in Washington with his former rival, Hillary Clinton.
The aim of the event is to shore up party unity, following the hardest-fought Democratic Party primaries in decades. The event was aimed at shoring up party unity, following the hardest-fought Democratic Party primaries in decades.
The dinner is also aimed at helping Mrs Clinton pay off her campaign debts. Mr Obama announced that he would personally donate $2,300 (£1,160), the maximum amount allowed by law, to help cover Mrs Clinton's campaign debts.
On Friday the two will hold a rally in Unity, New Hampshire - where each got 107 votes in the state's primary. He said he would call on his top financial backers to do the same.
Mrs Clinton will introduce some of her most important and wealthiest donors to Mr Obama in Washington and in New Hampshire they plan to hold their first joint rally as partners for the first time in public. Mr Obama received a standing ovation from a crowd of more than 200 at Washington's Mayflower Hotel when he said he would enlist his supporters to help pay off Mrs Clinton's debt.
Mrs Clinton is due to back Senator Obama's bid for the White House for the first time on Friday at a joint campaign rally in Unity, New Hampshire - where they each got 107 votes in the state's primary.
ReconciliationReconciliation
Latest opinion polls suggest that while Mr Obama has made headway in winning over Mrs Clinton's supporters, one in five of them has indicated they will vote for the Republican candidate, John McCain.Latest opinion polls suggest that while Mr Obama has made headway in winning over Mrs Clinton's supporters, one in five of them has indicated they will vote for the Republican candidate, John McCain.
Mrs Clinton, speaking to the American Nurses Association before the fund-raising dinner, praised Mr Obama for his "grit and grace". "I'm going to need Hillary by my side campaigning during this election, and I'm going to need all of you," Mr Obama told the Washington audience.
"I am asking you to do everything you can to help elect Barack Obama," she said. Mrs Clinton's advisers have warned Mr Obama that her ability to campaign on his behalf will be limited if she has to spend the summer raising money to pay off her more than $20m (£10m) debt racked up in her failed bid to win the nomination.
"I have debated him in more debates than I can remember and I have seen his passion and his determination and his grit and his grace. In his own life he has lived the American dream." Mrs Clinton told her donors they must make electing Mr Obama a priority, as she acknowledged the often bitter fight between the two former rivals.
Earlier Mr Obama said he would like to have Mrs Clinton campaigning for him as much as she can. "I think we can send Senator Clinton anywhere and she'll be effective," he said. "This was a hard-fought campaign, that's what made it so exciting and intense and why people's passions ran so high on both sides," she said.
But Mrs Clinton’s advisers have told Mr Obama that her ability to campaign on his behalf will be limited if she has to spend the summer raising money to pay off her more than $20m (£10m) debt racked up in her failed bid to win the nomination. "I know my supporters have extremely strong feelings, and I know Barack's do as well. But we are a family, and we have an opportunity now to really demonstrate clearly we do know what's at stake, and we will do whatever it takes to win back this White House," she added.
Since Mrs Clinton suspended her campaign and endorsed Mr Obama, the former rivals have not met in person since they spoke at the Washington home of Senator Dianne Feinstein, two days after the last primaries.Since Mrs Clinton suspended her campaign and endorsed Mr Obama, the former rivals have not met in person since they spoke at the Washington home of Senator Dianne Feinstein, two days after the last primaries.