Despite RFK remark, S.D. paper endorses Clinton

The same newspaper editorial board that heard firsthand Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-N.Y.) comparison between former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's assassination and the protracted 2008 Democratic nomination battle endorsed Clinton for president Friday.

{mosads}The South Dakota Argus Leader said in its endorsement that Clinton is the "strongest Democratic candidate for Sotuh Dakota." But just a week ago, the paper was at the center of the storm when its editorial board asked Clinton in a meeting why she has stayed in the race despite increasingly long if not insurmountable odds of winning the nomination.

Clinton's response was that nomination battles, including her husband's, have lasted well into June, which led her into controversial territory.

"We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California," Clinton said. "You know, I just– I don't understand it."

While historians flinched at the accuracy of both comparisons, Clinton came under fire from a number of Democrats for broaching the subject of Democratic frontrunner Sen. Barack Obama's (Ill.) safety, a concern that has followed him throughout his run as the first viable African American presidential candidate.

Obama did not pile on Clinton's remarks, saying instead that in long, intense campaigns, candidates will at times get "careless."

The Argus Leader was quick to defend Clinton's remarks last week, saying in an email released by the Clinton campaign that the New York senator was asked and answered in the "contex…[of] whether her continued candidacy jeopardized party unity this close to the Democratic convention."

"Her reference to Mr. Kennedy's assassination appeared to focus on the timeline of his primary candidacy and not the assassination itself," the statement read.

South Dakota joins Montana as the two last states to hold primaries in what has become a marathon season. The two states vote June 3.

And Democratic leaders intend to push for the race to be over when the final votes are tallied. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean will urge uncommitted delegates to choose sides after the final states vote, according to the AP.

"By this time next week, it will all be over give or take a day," Reid said.