US News
Obama takes historic Democratic nomination over Clinton (2nd Roundup)
Jun 4, 2008, 4:56 GMT
Democratic presidential candidate US Senator Barack Obama speaks to supporters at the Xcel Center in St . Paul, Minnesota, USA, 03 June 2008. Barack Obama clinched the Democratic presidential nomination after a five-month battle with Hillary Clinton, becoming the first African American to lead a major political party into a general election in the United States. EPA/CRAIG LASSIG
Washington - Barack Obama declared victory in the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday night after a five-month battle with Hillary Clinton, becoming the first African American to lead a major political party into a general election in the United States.
Obama captured the majority of delegates needed to win the party's nod on the final day of primaries in the bitterly contested nomination battle with Clinton, who refused to concede defeat and said she has made 'no decisions' about her political future.
His victory was projected by US broadcast networks immediately after polls closed in South Dakota Tuesday night, which along with Montana held the last in the series of state-by-state contests that began with Iowa on January 3.
'Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States,' Obama told cheering supporters in St Paul, Minnesota. 'Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another.'
Obama said he was convinced the Democratic Party would unite ahead of November and praised Clinton - who had hoped to become the first woman president - for a 'barrier-breaking campaign.'
'Our party and our country are better off because of her and I am a better candidate for having had the honour to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton,' he said.
The hard-fought campaign lasted longer than any pundits predicted at the outset, when Clinton was seen as the heir-apparent for the nomination, and ended with the former first lady scrounging for every last vote.
Each candidate gathered die-hard supporters over the past year, many of whom have said they would be reluctant to vote for their candidates' intra-party rival in November.
The polarized attitudes of such voters now leave Obama with the task of reaching out to Clinton's supporters lest they vote for Republican John McCain, known for his appeal to moderates across party lines.
Obama began that task by trying to cast a positive light on the long primary campaign.
'There are those who say that this primary has somehow left us weaker and more divided. Well, I say that, because of this primary, there are millions of Americans who have cast their ballot for the very first time,' he said.
Clinton, however, said only that she was 'congratulating Senator Obama and his supporters on the extraordinary race that they have run.'
'This has been a long campaign, and I will be making no decisions tonight,' Clinton said, drawing loud cheers from a defiant crowd of supporters in New York.
Clinton appeared to have one last victory to her name, taking South Dakota's primary. She led the state 56 per cent to 44 per cent with 98 per cent of precincts reporting.
But the victory would not be enough to stop Obama from passing the mark of 2,118 delegates required to win the nomination outright.
He also won in Montana, with 58 per cent of the vote to Clinton's 40 per cent with 48 per cent of precincts reporting.
Throughout the day a handful of super delegates - party leaders and activists that cast their votes independently of the state primaries - switched their allegiance to Obama, bringing him within 10 delegates of the clinching number before polls had even closed in South Dakota and Montana.
McCain, who will face Obama in November, on Tuesday declared 'Tonight, we can say with confidence the primary season is over, and the general election campaign has begun.'
He lost no time firing against Obama, taking him to task for statements that he would meet with leaders of nations like Iran and for his position on Iraq.
'I have a few years on my opponent,' McCain, 71, said. 'So I am surprised that a young man has bought in to so many failed ideas.'
'This is, indeed, a change election,' he added, echoing Obama's own campaign mantra. 'But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change - between going forward and going backward.'
McCain joined Obama in congratulating Clinton for her groundbreaking campaign.
As she ponders her next move, pundits began speculating before the returns were in Tuesday about a possible bid for the vice presidential slot. CNN reported that Clinton had told New York lawmakers Tuesday that she would consider the number two spot if asked by Obama.
In a phone call after midnight, Obama congratulated Clinton on the South Dakota win and told her he would like to meet with her soon, CNN reported.
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Older Talkback
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One thing definitely needs to be nogociated and that is organizing a decent health care system .Clinton already tried to introduce a modern,efficient health care system but was rebuked by the republican ld conress .To rid health care from the powerful grip of the insurance business will take a lot of energy .they drive billions of dollars of profit from the americans,only one goal for them:making maximum profit by using every trick possible to deny the end user the money they have in custody .if Obama is to be yournew president you will have to make him speak out on this issue and see if he is the man to handle this difficult task .if he teams up with Clinton no doubt she will put her shoulders under this issue and modrnize health care for your benefit .Until now the debate has been concentrated mostly on slogans and propaganda .Give the future of your country more content.
Because like you, he doesn't give a rats ass what tonny from belgium thinks.
Leave it to the British News Services - after screwing with the world's finances for the past half millennium, why would the Brits be any better at News.
Obama did NOT pass the delegate mark of 2118 last night. Not possible - only 36 delegates were available, you soppy dates.
Mark my words - Hillary Clinton will be President. It was already decided by the Danish Queen, among others.
And then she won South Dakota. Obama cannot beat McCain. And if I had to choose my neighbour, McCain or Clinton?
Idiots.
Ahem.
I have more pride in our USA then this!!!!!!!!!!!!
if you have no pride in america because obama is colored then it's time to grow up or better yet just leave .
How would Obama deal with the 100 million christian radicals in the U.S. that have had a free rein to kill muslims in Iraq for 6 years, and support muslim killing and occupation? I mean, if he put a leash on them then there would be a lot of pent up aggressions.
There should be a law in the U.S.: Kill muslim, go to jail; even if it is on foreign soil. Fortunately there are such laws in the U.S. and if christians did what they do in the M.E., but in the U.S., then those christians would go to jail.
We got to kill some heathens, native americans, darkies, wetbacks, chincs, commies, vc, gooks, geeks, and towelheads, just for Christ!
Sometimes the dim witted comments I read on this site really make me shudder - - - for a moment or two anyway.
Many of you live in deeply disturbed worlds.
'Many of you live in deeply disturbed worlds.'
I agree. So, what excuse is there for killing muslims in Iraq?:
(1) WMDs?: No, that was a lie.
(2) al-Qaeda? No, they were not there before the U.S. started killing.
(3) 9/11? No, none of them were Iraqis, none were from Iraq and none had been receiving help from an Iraq jurisdiction.
(4) Defense? No. It is proven that Saddam was all tapped out with essentially no military capabilities.
(5) Democracy? Maybe or maybe not.
So, the excuse for killing muslims is to force democracy on them? Is that a good enough excuse for killing people? Are christians doing the killing? Obviously. Almost all of the soldiers in the U.S. military are christian.
What does it mean to be christian when it amounts to killing? Can christian charity be enough to turn a blind eye to killing muslims just like it was to turn a blind eye to mass raping children (by catholic priests)?
greenpan must have be right when he said it's all about oil, not democracy, WMD, or dictators. Don't the Christians have a god given right to take the oil in Iraq so they can drive their SUV's to their evangelical megachurches?
@ Lance
'what excuse is there for killing muslims in Iraq?'
You are definitely disturbed Lance. In case you aren't aware, about 95%+ of all casualties are muslim on muslim often deliberate and gruesome murder - and often specifically because they are muslim. The US is much more egalitarian and it has nothing to do with religious affiliation. If you are directly involved in perpetrating violence against civilians or the government or public/private property, then you become a target.
'(1) WMDs?: No, that was a lie.'
You are deluded Lance. The UNSC was unanimous in confirming Saddam's lack of compliance. I really don't expect you to grasp any of this.
(2) al-Qaeda? No, they were not there before the U.S. started killing.
Keep chasing your tail. It must be frustrating Lance. Why do you think it is ok for dictators and terrorists to kill people, but not ok for the US to put those terrorists/dictators 'out of business'? Should we abandon our allies and not protect the democratically elected government?
'(3) 9/11? No, none of them were Iraqis, none were from Iraq and none had been receiving help from an Iraq jurisdiction.'
Thats swell Lance, but the UN imposed cease fire terms on Saddam that he did not comply with for over a decade. You (and other freaks) are the only one claiming it was 9/11 connection.
'(4) Defense? No. It is proven that Saddam was all tapped out with essentially no military capabilities.'
When was this proven? When compared to US military, almost any country would be 'tapped out.' Saddam was a proven brutal killer who defiantly refused to comply with US disarmament resolutions and who required constant monitoring and military containment. This tapped out Saddam maintained a brutal regime that killed hundreds of thousands of his own people.
'(5) Democracy? Maybe or maybe not.'
How can you doubt the US commitment to helping the Iraqis build democracy? It will take a while before it looks like anything in the west, but that is not the fault of the US.
'mass raping children (by catholic priests)?'
Wow! So much hate Lance! You really should get help. I don't expect you to convince you because your mind has been poisoned. Your thoughts are really pathological and I am sincere in my hope that you will get professional help.
Good luck!
i don't know if it's a good idea to threaten obamas life
'So, the excuse for killing muslims is to force democracy on them?'
Who is killing muslims?
Take a look idiot, it is muslims killing muslims...
your point is ???
why does bush wating so much money on war it dosent worth it. Even if he kills all the terrorists in there will it be any better for america i think not any way he is wating so much money that he could donate to charity help poor people even make free heathcare service.Do u even know whose money he is spading our money that comes from taxes.I want new president to change all that mess!!!!!!
'some one smarter that all of u'
You sure don't sound it.
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:-DJun 4th, 2008 - 07:06:14
LOL!
Way to go democrats...
Shot yourselves in both feet.
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