Newsmax.com:Clinton,ObamaPredictEventualUnity

FAYETTEVILLE,N.C.--Theymaybickerdailyoverissues,characterandinnuendo,butbothHillaryRodhamClintonandBarackObamaappeartoagreeononething:DemocraticvoterswillcoalescearoundanomineeandcarryhimorhertovictoryinNovemberoverRepublicanJohnMcCain.

AtarallyhereThursday,ClintonwasaskedwhatshewouldsaytoDemocratssoinvestedinhercandidacyorObama'sthattheywouldconsidervotingforMcCaininthegeneralelectioniftheirpreferredcandidateisn'tthenominee.

"Pleasethinkthroughthisdecision.Itisnotawisedecision,"Clintonsaidtoapplause.

"Everytimewehaveavigorouscontestlikewe'rehavingthisprimaryelection,peoplegetintense.SenatorObamahasintensesupport.Ihaveintensesupport.It'sexcitingbecausepeoplewanttobeinvolved.But,thedifferences...paleincomparisontothedifferencesbetweenusandSenatorMcCain."

NorthCarolinaholdsitsprimaryMay5,with115delegatesatstake.

ObamamadeasimilarpointThursdayinaninterviewonABC's"WorldNews."

"Therearegoingtobesomebruisedfeelings,whoeverthenomineeis.WearegoingtohavetocometogetherandremindourselvesthatthereisaheckofalotbiggerdifferencebetweeneitherSenatorClintonormyself,andJohnMcCain,"Obamasaid.

Hesaidtheprotractedcontestwouldnotharmthepartyinthelongrun.

"Ithinkshortterm,thereisgoingtobeworktodoforthenomineetobringthepartybacktogetheragain.Peoplefeelprettypassionateabouttheirrespectivecandidates.Iappreciatethat,andIunderstandit,"Obamasaid.

Theformerfirstlady,whotrailsObamainthepopularvoteandinpledgeddelegates,haspushedbackoncriticswhoarguethatsheshouldceasehercriticismsoftheIllinoissenatorandendhercampaignsohecanfocusondefeatingMcCain.

ClintonpledgedThursdaytobeateamplayernomattertheoutcomeoftheprimarycontest.

"IintendtodoeverythingIcantomakesurewehaveaunifiedDemocraticParty,"shesaid."Whenthiscontestisoverandwehaveanominee,we'regoingtocloseranks.We'regoingtobeunited...ThemostimportantgoalforusistoputaDemocratbackintheWhiteHouse."

Gotolinkforentirestory:http://newsmax.com/politics/democrats_party_unity/2008/03/27/83595.html

--Newsmax.com;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor