Obama seizes Democratic nomination, history

DENVER (AFP) - In a deafening moment of history, Democrats on Wednesday anointed Barack Obama the first black major-party nominee for president, in a cathartic release of unity, hope and tears.

The newly-minted nominee then sent the Democratic National Convention into raptures by crashing his own party a day early, after a stemwinding speech from running-mate Joseph Biden and a belated but glowing endorsement from Bill Clinton.

Only Republican John McCain, who accepts his party’s nomination next week and reportedly settled on the name of his vice presidential pick on Wednesday, can now halt Obama’s historic before the White House.

Obama took his stunning political rise to new heights as former foe Hillary Clinton halted a roll-call vote and called for the 47-year-old son of a Kenyan father and white mother from Kansas to be nominated by acclamation. In his first public appearance since his historic elevation, Obama said he was proud to have the Biden family along on a “journey to take America back” and praised the Clintons for helping to heal the wounds of a bruising primary.