Democrats nominate Obama officially
Friday, 29 August 2008
DENVER, Aug 28 (Agencies): To shouts of "Yes we can," Democrats nominated Barack Obama Wednesday as their presidential candidate in a historic first for a black American, backed by his ex-rivals Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, Republican John McCain has settled on a running mate and will unveil his choice Friday as he seeks to limit the expected poll surge from Democrat Barack Obama's nomination.
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.
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!"
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.
Another reports from CHICAGO adds, McCain would notify his vice presidential pick on Thursday before making a joint appearance with his chosen partner at an event in Ohio on Friday, the Washington Post reported on its website.
The Politico.com website also reported McCain had settled on his vice presidential candidate.
The reports came amid a fierce Republican grassroots push for a partner who will uphold conservative traditions as other factions lobby for a vice president with strong economic and security credentials.
Younger Republican contenders may also see their chances improve because of McCain's age -- at 72 he would be the oldest president inaugurated for a first term should he beat Obama in the November elections.
High on the list of possible candidates is former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who lost to McCain in a bitter primary race but has since rallied aggressively on behalf of his former rival.
Romney attacked Obama on the sidelines of the Democratic convention in Denver Tuesday but played coy about his aspirations, telling reporters: "I have nothing for you on the VP front."
A self-made millionaire whose father was the governor of Michigan, Romney is also credited with saving the scandal-plagued Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, staged successfully in 2002.
"Governor Romney would help shore up (McCain's) perceived lack of economic experience," said Heath Hall, a senior policy analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank.
"Also Romney strategically helps as far as the states of Michigan, New Hampshire ... and the mountain states like Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada that have been viewed in play as well."
Another contender is Tom Ridge, who was the first secretary of homeland security under President George W. Bush and is also a former governor of Pennsylvania, a potentially decisive battleground.
While Ridge's security credentials would help win over independent voters, his support of abortion rights could alienate the Republican base.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who will be in Denver Thursday to help undermine the Democrats, is well-liked by conservatives for his anti-abortion stance and evangelical background.
But while the 47-year-old would bring youth and energy to the campaign, it is unclear if Pawlenty can really deliver Minnesota.
His lack of experience may also not play well against Obama's VP pick: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, a sharp debater whose decades in Washington will help offset criticism of Obama's lack of experience.
A dark horse in the running is McCain's ally and close friend Joe Lieberman, a former Democrat who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000 and then had a falling out with his party over the war in Iraq.
Choosing Lieberman, the first Jewish candidate on a major party election ticket, could help McCain win over independent voters especially in states with large Jewish communities such as Florida.
But picking the pro-choice independent senator would be "a disaster for all concerned, and especially for the GOP," influential conservative columnist Robert Novak wrote Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Republican John McCain has settled on a running mate and will unveil his choice Friday as he seeks to limit the expected poll surge from Democrat Barack Obama's nomination.
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.
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!"
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.
Another reports from CHICAGO adds, McCain would notify his vice presidential pick on Thursday before making a joint appearance with his chosen partner at an event in Ohio on Friday, the Washington Post reported on its website.
The Politico.com website also reported McCain had settled on his vice presidential candidate.
The reports came amid a fierce Republican grassroots push for a partner who will uphold conservative traditions as other factions lobby for a vice president with strong economic and security credentials.
Younger Republican contenders may also see their chances improve because of McCain's age -- at 72 he would be the oldest president inaugurated for a first term should he beat Obama in the November elections.
High on the list of possible candidates is former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who lost to McCain in a bitter primary race but has since rallied aggressively on behalf of his former rival.
Romney attacked Obama on the sidelines of the Democratic convention in Denver Tuesday but played coy about his aspirations, telling reporters: "I have nothing for you on the VP front."
A self-made millionaire whose father was the governor of Michigan, Romney is also credited with saving the scandal-plagued Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, staged successfully in 2002.
"Governor Romney would help shore up (McCain's) perceived lack of economic experience," said Heath Hall, a senior policy analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank.
"Also Romney strategically helps as far as the states of Michigan, New Hampshire ... and the mountain states like Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada that have been viewed in play as well."
Another contender is Tom Ridge, who was the first secretary of homeland security under President George W. Bush and is also a former governor of Pennsylvania, a potentially decisive battleground.
While Ridge's security credentials would help win over independent voters, his support of abortion rights could alienate the Republican base.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who will be in Denver Thursday to help undermine the Democrats, is well-liked by conservatives for his anti-abortion stance and evangelical background.
But while the 47-year-old would bring youth and energy to the campaign, it is unclear if Pawlenty can really deliver Minnesota.
His lack of experience may also not play well against Obama's VP pick: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, a sharp debater whose decades in Washington will help offset criticism of Obama's lack of experience.
A dark horse in the running is McCain's ally and close friend Joe Lieberman, a former Democrat who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000 and then had a falling out with his party over the war in Iraq.
Choosing Lieberman, the first Jewish candidate on a major party election ticket, could help McCain win over independent voters especially in states with large Jewish communities such as Florida.
But picking the pro-choice independent senator would be "a disaster for all concerned, and especially for the GOP," influential conservative columnist Robert Novak wrote Wednesday.