Clinton endorses Obama, ends White House bid

By John Whitesides and Ellen Wulfhorst

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton ended her historic presidential bid and endorsed Barack Obama on Saturday, urging her supporters to unite behind Obama and help recapture the White House for Democrats in November.

In the first step toward healing the wounds of a sometimes bitter five-month Democratic nominating battle, Clinton told cheering supporters at a final campaign rally that she and Obama shared the same values and goals.

"Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run," Clinton told a crowd of about 2,000 at the National Building Museum in Washington.

"I endorse him and I throw my full support behind him," she said, with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and her daughter, Chelsea, standing to the side of the stage.

"We will make history together," she said.

Obama will be crowned the Democratic nominee at the party's August nominating convention and will face Republican Sen. John McCain in November's election to choose a successor to President George W. Bush.

Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, was once the heavy favorite to become the first female U.S. president. She had resisted calls to pull out of the race for months as the split between their supporters grew wider.

But she said it was time to put aside their differences and concentrate on winning in November.