Former Democratic Presidential Candidate and Long-Time Clinton Friend, George McGovern, Switches Support From Hillary to Obama

By Johanna Neuman and Noam N. Levey | Los Angeles Times Staff Writers | May 8, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Former South Dakota Sen. George McGovern, the Democratic Party's 1972 presidential standard bearer, urged Hillary Rodham Clinton today to drop out of the race.

McGovern, who had backed Clinton, told the Associated Press that after watching the returns from the North Carolina and Indiana primaries Tuesday night, he has concluded that it is mathematically impossible for the New York senator to win the nomination. He said he was switching his allegiance to her rival Barack Obama.