Clintons, Obama pay homage to activists - Yahoo! News

Clintons, Obama pay homage to activists - Yahoo! News: "By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer Sun Mar 4, 11:12 PM ET SELMA, Ala. - Presidential candidates Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) and Hillary Clinton crossed campaign paths for the first time Sunday as they paid homage to civil rights activists who they said helped give them the chance to break barriers to the White House. The two candidates and former President Clinton, making his first appearance with his wife since her campaign began, linked arms with activists who 42 years ago were attacked by police with billyclubs during a peaceful voting rights march. 'Bloody Sunday' shocked the nation and helped bring attention to the racist voting practices that kept blacks from the polls. 'I'm here because somebody marched for our freedom,' Obama, who would become the first black president, said from the Brown Chapel AME Church where the march began on March 7, 1965. 'I'm here because you all sacrificed for me. I stand on the shoulders of giants.' Not to be outdone in the hunt for black votes, Hillary Clinton also spoke in Selma at a church three blocks away and brought a secret weapon — her husband. Three days before the march anniversary, her campaign announced that the former president who is so popular among blacks would accompany her for his induction into Selma's Voting Rights Hall of Fame. Sen. Clinton said the Voting Rights Act and the Selma march made possible her presidential campaign, as well as those of Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who would be the first Hispanic to occupy the Oval Office."