US:BARACK Obama and Hillary Clinton have made a joint appeal for Democratic Party unity, appearing together at a rally in a New Hampshire village called Unity.
Mrs Clinton acknowledged that the primary campaign was hard fought, but urged her supporters to work as hard for Mr Obama as they had done for her.
"Unity is not only a beautiful place as we can see, it's a wonderful feeling, isn't it? And I know when we start here in this field in Unity, we'll end on the steps of the Capitol when Barack Obama takes the oath of office as our next president," she said.
Mrs Clinton won New Hampshire's primary in an upset victory in January, but Unity was evenly divided between the two candidates, each of whom received 107 votes. Some of Mrs Clinton's supporters remain cool towards Mr Obama, but the former first lady yesterday warned her former backers against staying at home in November, or supporting Republican John McCain.
"I strongly urge you to reconsider. I know that he'll work for you. He'll fight for you, and he'll stand up for you every single day in the White House," she said, praising Mr Obama's grit and commitment to social change.
"In the end, Senator McCain and President Bush are like two sides of the same coin, and it doesn't amount to a whole lot of change. If you think we need a new course, a new agenda, then vote for Barack Obama and you will get the change that you need and deserve." Mr Obama said he was honoured to receive his former rival's endorsement and said his campaign needed the help of Mrs Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton.
"We need them. We need them badly. Not just my campaign, but the American people need their service and their vision and their wisdom in the months and years to come, because that's how we're going to bring about unity in the Democratic Party. And that's how we're going to bring about unity in America," he said.
The two former rivals flew to New Hampshire together, a day after Mr Obama met some of Mrs Clinton's top donors, telling them he and his wife Michelle had each made a personal contribution of $2,300 (€1,457) towards her campaign debt. Mr Obama has encouraged his supporters to donate to Mrs Clinton's campaign, which owes more than $22 million.
"I know my supporters have extremely strong feelings, and I know Barack's do as well," Mrs Clinton told her contributors.
"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."
Most of Mrs Clinton's former supporters are backing Mr Obama, according to an Associated Press poll this week, but more than one in five now plan to support Mr McCain in November. "We still have work to do," Mr Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, acknowledged.
"Democrats are consolidating behind the nominee, as the choice in the election is more clear and as the contest fades. Time is our friend here."
Mr McCain yesterday rebuked Mr Obama for reportedly claiming that the Republican would appoint supreme court judges who would roll back 50 years of gains for women's rights. Mr McCain said the charge was unworthy of his opponent, and criticised Mr Obama's failure to accept his invitation to take part in weekly town hall meetings.
"If Senator Obama wants to make a statement like that while we're both on stage or before a group of Americans, then I will be glad to respond to him. I think my record speaks clearly for itself," he said.