Clinton drops out of 2008 U.S. presidential race

Hillary Clintonasked her supporters to give their full backing to formerrival Barack Obama as she officially ended her bid for the White House on Saturday.

"This has been a tough fight, but the Democratic party is a family and nowit's time torestore the ties that bind us together," shetold cheering supporters at the National Building Museum in Washington.

"Today as I suspendmy campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won, the extraordinary race he has run andand I throwmy full support behind him and I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me," she said.

She said she and Obama have faced each other in 22 debates and she has had a "front-row seat to his candidacy" and has seen "his determination, his grace and his grit."

Withdaughter Chelsea and husband former U.S. president Bill Clinton along with her mother, Dorothy Rodham, watching, theNew York senator formally ended herbid for the country's highest political officeafter a 16-month contest to win overparty delegates.

The official announcementcame less than a week after the Illinois senator secured enough delegates totalling 2,118 to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination.

Of roughly37 million Democrats who voted, about18 million supported the former first lady.

"Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it has about 18 million cracks in it and the light is shining through like never before," she said in formally ending her quest to become the first femaleU.S. president.