Hillary Clinton to end presidential bid on Friday

Hillary Rodham Clinton has decided to end her historic presidential campaign while leaving her options open to retain her delegates and promote her agenda, a campaign official says. The former first lady told House Democrats during a private conference call Wednesday that she will express support for Barack Obama's candidacy and congratulate him for gathering the necessary delegates to be the party's nominee. "Senator Clinton will be hosting an event in Washington on Friday to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity," her communications director Howard Wolfson said. Also in the speech, Clinton will urge once-warring Democrats to focus on the general election and defeating Republican presidential candidate John McCain.