Obama declares himself the nominee
Senator Barack Obama tonight declares himself the Democratic nominee for the presidency, saying in remarks prepared for delivery to a rally in St. Paul, Minn.: "Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another -- a journey that will bring a new and better day to America."
Speaking at the arena where Republicans will hold their national convention in September, Obama paid tribute to the Democrat he battled for the last five months, saying Senator Hillary Clinton "has made history in this campaign not just because she's a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she's a leader who inspires milions of Americans with her strength, her courage and her commitment to the causes that brought us here tonight."
With the results expected shortly from the final two primaries of the season, in Montana and South Dakota, Obama was certain to pass the 2,118 delegates he needed to clinch the nomination. A flurry of superdelegates declared for him throughout the day. Moments after the polls closed in South Dakota, television networks said Obama had passed the threshold.
In his prepared remarks, Obama said that sixteen months after he announced his candidacy, "Tonight, after fifty-four hard-fought contests, our primary season has finally come to an end."
"At this defining moment for our nation, we should be proud that our party put forth one of the most talented, qualified field of individuals ever to run for this office. I have not just competed with them as rivals, I have learned from them as friends, as public servants, and as patriots who love America and are willing to work tirelessly to make this country better. They are leaders of this party, and leaders that America will turn to for years to come."
Referring to the hard-fought campaign, Obama said: "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. There are Independents and Republicans who understand that this election isn’t just about the party in charge of Washington, it’s about the need to change Washington. There are young people, and African-Americans, and Latinos, and women of all ages who have voted in numbers that have broken records and inspired a nation."
Obama applauded presumptive Republican nominee John McCain's long service to the nation, but added that while McCain "can legitimately tout moments of independence from his party in the past, such independence has not been the hallmark of his presidential campaign. It’s not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush ninety-five percent of the time, as he did in the Senate last year."
"America, this is our moment. This is our time," Obama added. "Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love."
Dear Hillary Clinton,
Please concede the Democratic presidential campaign.
I am so glad he will be the nominee. As a conservative, but not a republican, this is great news. McCain is not my first choice, nor one of my top choices, however, he is my choice over any democrat. Tis is a day to rejoice. Although Bush was an embarrassment and fraud (as a conservative) at least McCain has an opponent with a chance to win. Not due to his race. Rather, sue to the fact he has no experience, done nothing as a civil servant and issued a racist as his spiritual adviser. I would have thought the conservatives had no chance to win. But, the liberals gladly prove me wrong again by being shallow and short sited as usual. Thank you liberals that support obama. Thank you for being so blind and trendy as usual. Now, as a libertarian, I hope McCain will do something conservative.
Sweet!
Well I didnt think i would live to see America fall, but now that obama has the nomination this country is finished. It wont be long now before we turn into just another 3rd world country where muslims rule and we go back to the 7th century where nothing gets done and everyone is sh***ting in the jungle.
It would appear the Political Intelligence's majority of readers who cared to comment are lacking in intelligence.
LJ - I assume you voted for Bush both terms. Excellent choice. Thanks for electing a moron who has ran the country into the ground and has been deemed the worst U.S. President in history.
Bill - If we stay the course, China will be the dominate world economic power in a few short years.
Lets hope Obama wins the presidency, I don't want to see a new war with Iran, while I would like to see the economy get better (Since that isn't really McCain's thing according to him).
To LJ: Anyone who attends church has disagreed, often vehemently, with the preacher's sermon. Very few ever confront the preacher.
To blame Obama for what someone else has said is guilt by association, and that's a bad thing.
To bill alton: If we are headed back to the 7th century, it is because there are too many people with hostile attitudes and a disregard for facts (Obama, in fact, is not a Muslim).
If barack is really "that" bad, show me some dirt on him. "Real" dirt not imagined.
The man has no dirt on him, he's as clean as you can get for a politician.
I know having a man with a boy scout attitude as a president will insult many people in this country. Our culture has been twisted upside down over the last couple decades. Wrong is right and right is wrong. If you actually represent the people and not the lobbyists, you get knocked and punched like barack.
Think about it, if doing the "right" (moral) thing is wrong in this country, what kind of people are we?
BILL ALTON, KEEP YOUR RACIST AND FILTHY COMMENTS TO YOURSELF. WHY DON'T YOU EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT RELIGIONS AND RESPECT PEOPLE WITH A DIFFERENT RELIGION THAN YOURS, OR GET THE HELL OUT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
YOU'RE A MISERABLE TWERP AND ARE A FIRST-CLASS BIGOT.
This is the beginning for new US. I m glad Clinton gone, everybody saw her real face in this campaign. Obama has new energie and new challenging ideas for our future, I m so glad this race is over with success of Obama, He is the just right person for running presidency beside Clinton and especially Mc Cain.
Thanks America, I love this country ,and our future can't be worse than now!
Lets see if he could win the general election. Amazing, he declared himself the nominee. Full of himself ain't? Hillary has not conceded and he declared. I wish he will be humiliated in August for declaring himself before his rival concede. Is this what we call class act?
We are at a loss Mr Bruce, I totally understand what you said, I am a republican, but I can not stand Mr. Bush, he is a fraud and a crook. I was going to vote for Obama, but then that issue with his ex-pastor, I have gone to church for years and have left churces because of the Pastor. So, for Obama to stay with one church for that many years, tells me he doesn't object. So, I stopped thinking about Obama for President, then I thought, I would vote for Hillary, however, the dems didn't elect her to be their Nominee. So, now, because of Obama's church problems, I am going to vote for John McCAIN, but now, I don't want to vote for J. McCain. I voted for Ron Paul in the California elections, but he didn't win, so, maybe I'll write in a candidate, perhaps, Arnold , why not, I know he wont win, but he isnt as bad as most.
Sen. Obama:
"You're on your own... unless"
You do what JFK and Reagan in selecting a VP.
In closing .... Congratulations.
Congratulations America! This is a new dawn for you, you now have the chance to rebuild and I hope you take it. Barrack Obama, and Hillary (don't count her out) and the rest of your democrats will bring you back from the brink.
You will now certainly regain respect from the rest of the world.
Incidentally, it boggles the mind of intelligent people all over the world to see that some of your citizens, such as Bill A. above, continue to be so disgustingly racist. I guess old habits die hard...
I have heard B. Obama being compared to J.F.K. .. That scares me...
I can only hope that the comparison stop at his intelligence and abilities and I wish him a very long long life and long presidency. Love from the Great White North.
John Mccain is Americas choice in 08 .The democrat is a looser Party they just nominate a looser over Hilliary Clinton the winner.John Mccain fight and suffered for this country while Barrack Hussein Obama was a little boy played in the sand on a beach in Hawaii.
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