Barack Obama - Hillary Clinton - Presidential election - USA

Obama wins Democratic nomination

Thursday 28 August 2008

Barack Obama became the first black presidential nominee of a major US party, with support from the Clintons, at the Democratic National Convention. Joe Biden accepts the vice presidential nomination.

Special Report Democrats gather to endorse Obama

Thursday 28 August 2008

By Reuters

Diary from Denver - Read the FRANCE 24 team's collective blog

FRANCE 24 Observers plug into the buzz at the Democratic Convention – click here for more

DENVER - To shouts of "Yes we can," Democrats nominated
Barack Obama on Wednesday as their presidential
candidate in a historic first for a black American,
backed by his ex-rivals Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Obama made his first appearance at the Democratic National
Convention, stepping out on stage after his vice presidential
running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, attacked Republican John McCain
as he accepted the nomination as No. 2 on the ticket.

"I think the convention has gone pretty well so far. What
do you think?" Obama said to cheering delegates after hugging
Biden and his wife Jill on stage.

Former President Bill Clinton, who has been slow to warm to
Obama after his wife lost a bruising primary battle, worked to
encourage party unity by giving Obama an unwavering seal of
approval in a speech to a packed convention hall.

Delegates cheered Clinton's appearance for so long that he
asked them to sit down.

"My fellow Democrats, I say to you: Barack Obama is ready
to lead America and to restore American leadership in the
world," the former president told flag-waving delegates who
interrupted him repeatedly with roars of approval.

"Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United
States," he said.

Biden laid down withering fire on McCain that some
Democrats have said has been lacking. He specifically cited
McCain's opposition to Obama's demand for setting a timetable
for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and said even the Bush
administration and the Iraqi government were on the verge of
setting a date to bring troops home.

"John McCain was wrong, and Barack Obama was right," Biden
said.

As they passed the torch to Obama, the Clintons were in the
spotlight.

In an earlier, emotional show of unity, Sen. Hillary
Clinton strode onto the floor of the party's national
convention during a roll call of the states and formally asked
Democratic delegates to suspend their count and approve Obama's
nomination 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 and he will be
our president," she said to raucous cheers.

Her request was quickly accepted by the convention's
presiding official, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy
Pelosi of California.

When Pelosi pounded a gavel to declare Obama the nominee,
delegates held hands together up high, danced and swayed back
and forth to the song "Love Train" in celebration.

"Yes we can," the crowd chanted. "Obama!"

REMARKABLE MOMENT

It was a remarkable moment for Obama, the son of a black
father from Kenya and white mother from Kansas who was raised
in humble beginnings and began his relatively short political
career as a community organizer in Chicago.

Four years ago he gave a stirring keynote speech to the
Democratic national convention as a U.S. Senate candidate with
no national experience. But that speech propelled him in a
rapid political rise that ended with the nomination.

In honor of Clinton's tenacity and to try to encourage
party unity, delegates had earlier granted the gesture of
symbolically nominating Clinton for the candidacy.

The Clintons' coordinated moves to help Obama could prove
important toward binding the wounds from the Clinton-Obama
battle that split the two camps and left some Clinton
supporters vowing not to support Obama.

It could also help Hillary Clinton avoid blame should Obama
lose to McCain this year and position herself as the go-to
Democratic candidate in the 2012 election.

In any event Obama was pleased, saying Hillary Clinton had
"rocked the house" in her speech on Tuesday and that Bill
Clinton "reminded us of what it's like when you actually put
people first."

Obama's nomination formally set the 47-year-old senator on
track to face McCain in the Nov. 4 election in a race that has
been neck-and-neck for weeks, with McCain's Republican
nominating convention to take place next week in the Minnesota
city of St. Paul.

Bill Clinton, a master politician who stumbled this year in
trying to help his wife, noted that when he first ran for
president in 1992, Republicans then, as now, suggested the
Democratic candidate was too inexperienced to be president.

"Sound familiar? It didn't work in 1992 because we were on
the right side of history, and it will not work in 2008 because
Barack Obama is on the right side of history," he said.

Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president, arrived
in Denver to prepare for his acceptance speech on Thursday to a
crowd of about 80,000 people at the Denver Broncos' pro
football stadium.

Special Report on Democrats gather to endorse Obama

Special Report on the race to the White House

Barack Obama - Hillary Clinton - Presidential election - USA

[23] reactions :

30/09/2008 15:37:23 Alert a moderator

Obama

By Myron - Newprot NH

I will be voting for Obama, I like his Ideas on things, and McCain sucks as a person.
10/09/2008 17:15:50 Alert a moderator

american elections

By Anonyme -

NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CANDIDATES
09/09/2008 20:16:09 Alert a moderator

elections americaines

By Anonyme -

AUCUNE DIFFERENCE ENTRE LES DEUX CANDIDATS QUI REPRESENTENT TOUS LES DEUX LA MENTALITE AMERICAINE (POUR NE PAS DIRE CROYANCE): GLOBALE HEGEMONIE ET SUPERIORITE DU PEUPLE AMERICAIN
03/09/2008 21:42:31 Alert a moderator

Obama

By Daniela - Johannesburg

the point is not who but the one that delivers and change sthe image of the USA, please no more interventions for profiteering etc into Irak, Afghanistan etc. If they intervene it should be for peace.
History repeats itself and will we ever learn?
03/09/2008 20:05:07 Alert a moderator

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT

By JOHN,ENGLAND - BRIGHTON

EIGHT YEARS OF BUSH IS MORE THAN EHOUGH AND McCAIN PROMISES MORE OF THE SAME AND WHAT AN AWFUL CHOICE OF RUNNING MATE,MS PAULIN HAS A LOT OF ANSWERING TO DO!
03/09/2008 19:51:13 Alert a moderator

President Elect

By Anonyme -

No one in his/her right mind would choose McCain. I am insulted as a woman that he picked Palin to be his VP pick...what a desperate move. I wholeheartedly support Obama and his movement for change. Its time America had a change...we deserve a vision that all Americans can be proud of. McCain has already got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel!
03/09/2008 17:40:33 Alert a moderator

Election

By Anonyme - USA

We do not have good choices from either party however, a vote for Mc Cain is just 4 more years of the Bush tactics.The country can't withstand 4 more years of the same
03/09/2008 15:33:40 Alert a moderator

FRANCE 24

By distantwings4747 - USA-LEESBURG, FL.

THIS WHOLE INTERNATIONAL, IS A SHAM. WE SENT OUR HELP, TROOPS AND USD TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN TROUBLE. AMERICAN DOLLARS NEED TO STAY AT HOME WHERE CHARITY BEGIN. HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SECUIRTY, MEDICARE AND THE ECONOMY BROKEN

SO WHY NOT SHORE US UP AND CONTINUE TO MAKE US THE STRONGEST COOUNTRY IN THE UIVERSE.

I AM APPALLED AT OUR GOVERNMENT. MACCAIN IS NOT THE ANSWER. BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE OBAMA IS.

PJ
03/09/2008 13:33:00 Alert a moderator

Obama vs. McCain

By Lori Drohan - United States/New Jersey

I fully believe that McCain can not help this country to make positive changes or work through the many issues facing us. He does not understand our economic or social issues. Obama has a much better grasp on human rights, every day economics and his eloquent speeches should not be underestimated. We need someone to help us regain respect in the world. After the ignorance and insensitivity of Bush we can not afford another ineffectual leader. Obama is a leader who will bring about real change.
03/09/2008 13:12:57 Alert a moderator

John McCain for President

By Anonyme - New Jersey, United states

John McCain has the experience to lead and the personal and political history to back it up.
Obama is a two year Senator with never being out of the USA until his tour of Europe last Summer.
John McCain has challenged the Washington political circle numerous times during his career. He has always put the people and the USA first in his beliefs as his record shows. His service to our country in both wartime and supporting the US in his present position in politics is impeccable.
There is no one better to lead than a proven leader with charactor and universal experience than John McCain.
03/09/2008 11:45:51 Alert a moderator

McCain vs Obama

By Sharon - USA, Kingsland

Say what you want about the right, Obama does not have a day's worth of leadership under his belt, he gives a great speech but its doubtful he will be a good leader. He hates his white side so bad he never associates with it. McCain has a great deal of leadership and is anxious to leave the Bush admin behind given his opposition to their politics. Our country and our world need more conservatism not liberalism, we need to get back to the basics and still advance in technology on all levels without sacrificing human life before it is born. Obama does not salute our flag McCain believes in our flag and salutes it with honor. I will be voting McCain and Palin in November because I believe in our constitution, our first amendment rights, God above all and smaller government. I believe all Americans should be as profitable as they want as long as it's done legally. McCain and Palin will uphold those beliefs.
03/09/2008 10:00:20 Alert a moderator

us presidential candidates

By colin rees - swansea glamorganshire

The wheel, penicillin,the steam engine ,the telephone, etc etc. were discovered by caucasians. I cannot think of one discovery by a ulotrichan. Maybe, McCain will be the better US president, as he possesses the right genetic structure.I am not a racist, but I simply point out the facts!!
03/09/2008 09:41:11 Alert a moderator

McCain or Obama

By Anonyme - USA

Easy decision-the only one that has the background and experience for the job-McCain!
30/08/2008 11:44:07 Alert a moderator

obama better

By Anonymehassan g. pella - nigeria/kaduna

i have closely followed your coverage of the american presidential campaign and arrived at the conclussion that obama is a better option for america, this is because there is need for america to look inwards to solve her internal problems like education, econony, housing etc and improve its relations with the outside world. at this moment /what america needs is more friends not more enemies.,
29/08/2008 18:53:14 Alert a moderator

Ring wing Scare tactics

By Anonyme - Naples, Florida

Its interesting reading some of the comments, as usual, the only real thing left for the right wing to hold on to is their scare tactics, "the end of the world" "obama bin ladin"- its laughable. Thankfully it seems apparent that their right wing ideology of hatred and fear is dying, just like the other political and ideological extreme, communism.
29/08/2008 13:56:50 Alert a moderator

Change is coming

By XYZ - Lebanon

The only constant thing in life is change. I think this election is already a change in itself. An Afro-American as candidate to the U.S Democratic party! I tell you, if and when Obama wins this election (as it seems inevitable) the world will never be the same again. Hopefully, it will be for good, as more and more people will be inspired to do unimaginable things. Minorities will rise to become majorities and vice versa. As any WASP in America, I would fear this election but for the greater good, this election will be a beginning like no other.
29/08/2008 09:40:49 Alert a moderator

Obama is the only logical choice.

By John C. - Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

As most of the world has already figured out, almost without exception, Republicans are arrogant, agressive, condescending and just plain mean spirited. They are desparate to hold on to their power but they have nothing left to run on, so they have taken the low road and have resorted to personal attacks. The "Obama bin Laden" comment from the anonymous poster from Chicago is an example of that. (Obama is NOT a Muslim, but so what if he is? There are well over a billion perfectly decent Muslims.) When Obama gets elected the entire world will be SO much better off. The Republican's fear tactics aren't going to work this time.
29/08/2008 08:07:58 Alert a moderator

Barak Obama

By Anonyme - Ethiopia

In my view, most elections promises are the major tools to win voters, however, we don't see them living up to their promisses. Talking the talk is easy, but walking the talk is very hard. If Barak is up to the task and meant what he said and address those critical issues, he can become a great President
28/08/2008 17:46:59 Alert a moderator

testing

By Ossi -

testing
28/08/2008 10:14:36 Alert a moderator

"Politics has taken on a new life on the Internet"

By Anonymous -

Re: Former Senator George Allen's campaign slip-up

Correction:
For the sake of being fair, Allen uttered an arguably "racial slur."
28/08/2008 10:09:19 Alert a moderator

common sense

By dave jones - auckland

It is really great to see a level headed canditate get the nomination. I know the American people have previously re-elected a president hell bent on destabilsing the world, (maybe it is a "dated" electoral system which is to blame for this), but I hope this time common sense will prevail and the American people will make the right choice, and vote for Obama. No more right wing war lords please!!!!!!
27/08/2008 18:21:06 Alert a moderator

Useless press.

By Anonyme - USA/chicago

PLEASE!!! Stop the obama bin laden / hillary clinton MADNESS!!! I read france24 because I want to be informed of what is happening around the world. NOT what the stupid american press bombards the USA EVERYDAY with. There are more newsworthy stories other than the demagogues in USA. Just because the lazy american press publish only obama bin laden/clinton, France 24 does not have to do the same.

Sincerely,

R Mena.
25/08/2008 07:46:40 Alert a moderator

On the streets of Denver

By Sonarweb - Denver

Denver - the end of the world? www.sonarwebtv.com