Tears as Clinton seals historic Obama election nomination
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 07:04:00 08/28/2008
DENVER -- (UPDATE 3) Tears flowed and an almighty party erupted on Wednesday as Hillary Clinton brought the curtain down on months of Democratic Party bitter divisions to propel Barack Obama into history.
After waging war against Obama in a marathon primary race that threatened to cause a permanent schism in Democratic ranks, it was left to New York Senator Clinton to finally call a halt to the convention roll-call of votes.
For the second consecutive day, Clinton stole the show at the convention, appearing dramatically on the floor and calling on House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to nominate Obama by acclamation.
"With eyes firmly fixed on the future in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let's declare together in one voice right here, right now that Barack Obama is our candidate," Clinton said.
With that, the crowd erupted in jubilation, and it was left only to Pelosi to ask a packed Pepsi Center to second Clinton's motion.
A huge roar of "Yes!" was followed by an even mightier "Aye!".
"It is with great pride that I announce Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee for president of the United States by acclamation," Pelosi declared, sending Democrats into delirium.
As the band played The O'Jays classic "Love Train" with its saccharine verse -- "People all over the world, join hands" -- delegates throughout the hall took up the invitation linked arms, hugged and danced.
Several delegates could be seen in floods of tears as the party got underway, finally free of the party's long internal battle.
The roll-call to nominate Obama was halted after 34 of the 56 delegations had read out their vote tallies, with the Illinois senator leading by 1,549 votes to Clinton's 341.
The end was declared shortly after New Mexico yielded its votes to Illinois which in turn yielded to New York, allowing Clinton her scene-stealing moment.
Clinton had earlier Wednesday paved the way for a feel-good show of unity after releasing her delegates prior to the roll-call that clearly struck a chord with her loyal supporters. Among the states to declare unanimous support for Obama was Clinton's adopted state Arkansas in a 47-0 show of unity.
Alabama delegate Ann Hubbert told AFP that while she had cast her vote for Clinton in accordance with her mandate, she would swing firmly behind Obama.
"From Thursday I'm an Obama person. Today I cast my vote for Hillary Clinton, as that was the mandate I was given by my state," Hubbert said.
"She has unified us and now it is up to him to close the deal. He has to take her message to the hinterland small towns in Alabama, he has to carry that message to them. He has to use words that talk to us."
Another Clinton delegate, Moses Ross, from Portland, Oregon, said he had no problem aligning himself with Obama.
"My party must win and Barack Obama shares 98 percent if not 100 percent of the values that I have and that Hillary has. I think a vote for Obama is a vote for Hillary and vice-versa."
And Kathy Karpan, a delegate from Wyoming, said she had cast her party vote for Clinton but would back Obama in November. "My parents would turn in their graves if I did anything else," she said.
"But Wyoming was the first state in the world to grant voting rights to women and I wanted to cast my vote for a woman president."
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