[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/02/art.vilsack.ap.jpg caption="Vilsack is a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton."](CNN) - Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, one of Hillary Clinton's most ardent supporters, said Sunday it's time for Hillary Clinton to acknowledge she has lost her bid for the Democratic nomination.
Vilsack, who was briefly a presidential candidate himself last year, told the Associated Press it's "pretty clear that Senator Obama is going to be the nominee."
"After Tuesday's contests, she needs to acknowledge that he's going to be the nominee and quickly get behind him," Vilsack also said.
Vilsack first announced he was running for president in November, 2006, but dropped his bid three months later after the Democrat failed to drum up a significant level of support or raise the necessary campaign funds needed to compete. He endorsed Clinton shortly after and played a key role in the New York senator's unsuccessful Iowa campaign effort.
His comments came the same day the Clinton showed signs she plans to press on after Tuesday's contests - continuing argue she has won the popular vote and that the party's superdelegates are able to switch their allegiances before the convention in August.
Who the hell is he to say it is over????
He is part of the cheaters!!!
Run Independent Hillary or take it all the way to the convention!!
We will NOT vote for Obama!!
She just is ready to destroy the party. She thinks she is entitled to be a president, She also think this country belongs to her family... She is a joke... I really think she is hoping for something bad happens to Obama... HILLARY supporter wake up...!!!!
Hillary will be voting for Obama at the General Election!
If you say you are a true Democrat you will be doing the same.
See you in the White House Obama!
This is what she needs to do but she probbably won't .Her side has said it is all about democracy.She don't care who she takes down.
Yes Sir it's over
This race has been over for a while. I've gotten somewhat frustrated that she's stayed in but after Tuesday, she needs to get out of this race. The party has become polarized and dragging this out or appealing the DNC's decision on Saturday is going to put this party even further into a hole. She needs to realize that this was a fair set of primaries and she lost, plain and simple.
Hillary Clinton is an excellent candidate and I wish her the very best. She was a formidable opponent.
Best of luck to her in whatever her future endeavors may be – perhaps becoming a lioness of the Senate? – and let's get on to the general election!!!
Oh not another "Judas," stop holding the democratic process hostage and just let go Hils
Thank you! I hope more voices of reason continue to speak out. Perhaps then the Hillary camp will wake up from their fantasyland and get back to reality. I have given Hillary several weeks after IN and NC to let the eventual loss sink in, but I see no signs of her or Bill coming to that conclusion on their own. After Tuesday, please begin your task of repairing the division. Only you can help your supporters heal.
What is over is the Democratic party. Hillary was our best choice for President.
Since the Florida/Michigan primaries came so early in the process, and few really knew Obama, those two primary votes were literally name recognition contests, which of course Clinton would win, one would think by even larger margins than she did.
Her fundraising visits to Florida received local media coverage, so she gained further benefit from them.
By continuing to say she's still fighting, even though Obama has for the past few weeks stopped campaigning against her, she will probably win SD, because all 3 Clnton's have been saturating the state, with Bill cotninuing the sexist pitch, that she's been disrespected, etc.
Where is the commitment to unity of the party. Will it ever surface?
Thanks, Mr. Vilsack! Superdelegates, please hurry UP! I'm so tired of this endless campaign.......
It's nice to see that Senator Clinton's supporters are coming to the same conclusion that most of us arrived at months ago. The American people want Barak Obama to be their nominee.
I can't believe this is happening. What a nightmare. What happened to democrats not nominating their best candidate and being overcome by this Obama phenomenon. Where else in the world would this happen. Total total nightmare. On to the convention Hillary!
Finally, We need you superdelegates to be honest with her. Stop telling her lies about her character.......
Your opinion certain holds no value, after playing "a key role in the New York senator's unsuccessful Iowa campaign effort." It won't play a "key role" now, either.
Thanks Tom Vilsack – OK, lets get on with the General campaign.
Go Barack 08
I second that emotion
I see Hillary Clinton as a fighter. She's tenacious. She will go the distance, and do what it takes to achieve her vision.
This is exactly the kind of person we don't need right now as a president. We don't need a fighter. With today's politics being so highly polarized, a fighter ends up being divisive, and nothing gets done.
What we need is someone who can compromise. Someone who doesn't dig in and fight, but rather reaches out to find common ground. Someone who tries to find a win-win scenario in the middle of a fight. Bill Clinton had some of this in the 90s, but he hasn't shown it recently. I'm supporting Obama.
Common sense.
I hope someone can talk some sense into her.
-–I welcome racist, sexist, or uneducated voters. Anything else is just beyond my grasp of understanding. My voters and I will continue to protest all the rules and regulations until the nomination is handed to me. Therefore, if you're a sexist, racist, or you're just down right uneducated it's ok, come join my camp(bring some money with you cause we have bills to pay).
I am not so sure about Obama now that he has thrown his church in the ditch. Wow, what a demonstration that he will do anything to get elected and not stand for anything. Very very sad. How can you throw your 20+ year convictions into the trash just because of of publich opinion. I want to see a candidate with some guts that will say "so what" to the press if they challenge their convictions.
My comments are not in favor of Senator Clinton so it might not be posted....
Hillary Clinton, needs to acknowledge that she has lost and bow out gracefully.
The super delegates, needs to acknowledge it is time that we move towards one.
Now its time that they move to Senator Barack Obama and end the "In Party Fighting"....
YAY VILSACK
BOO HILLARY