ABC: Obama Becomes First Black Democratic Presidential Nominee

[Hissyspit]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4979853&page=1

Obama Becomes First Black Democratic Presidential Nominee

The Third African American Senator Since Reconstruction Makes History
By JENNIFER PARKER
June 3, 2008

After a bruising battle, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has won enough delegates to clinch the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, ABC News projects based on exit polls and reporting.

Obama, D-Ill., becomes the first African-American major party presidential candidate in the nation's history.

But the candidate emerges battered after a bitter, five-month fight against Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who was vying to become the party's first female presidential nominee and was once considered the likely nominee.

Delivering soaring speeches tied to a popular message of hope and change, Obama's insurgent candidacy inspired record-breaking campaign contributions, record turnout by black voters, and wide support from independents, liberals, young voters, and high-income, better-educated Democrats.

Although he won the majority of primary contests -- 33 to Clinton's 20, not including Michigan and Florida -- the Illinois senator struggled to win the support of white, blue-collar voters, older voters and Hispanic voters.

The issue of race cropped up again and again for the man seeking to become the nation's first black president.

When tapes of Obama's longtime pastor excoriating America surfaced, the Illinois senator distanced himself from his pastor, and ultimately from his Chicago church, delivering a widely applauded speech on race and religion.

If Obama is elected president, he will be, at 47, among the youngest presidents in U.S. history. His Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would be the oldest presidential candidate to win a first term in office at age 72.

Obama's Rise

No stranger to record books, Obama, became the fifth African-American senator in U.S. history and was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review.

Born to a white, American mother and a black, Kenyan father, Obama has spoken openly of his struggle to find acceptance in the black community.

First living in Hawaii, Obama's family moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, when he was 6, where he lived for a time with his mother and Indonesian stepfather. He has credited his upbringing for making him sensitive to America's flagging image abroad.

Attending Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, a constitutional law professor, and a lawyer in Chicago before becoming a senator in the Illinois state Senate in 1996.

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[Patsy Stone]

1. Yes.

K&R

[myrna minx]

7. Can you believe we're finally here?

I want to dance and cry. :bounce:

[Patsy Stone]

11. I cried once today already,

and I imagine that trend will continue. Funny though, I cried over the fact that Hillary made it possible for a woman to run in the future, even though I've been an Obama supporter since the get go. Ah, life.

:hi: :toast:

[book_worm]

2. And it's about time a person of color got this high honor in this country.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

3. If Disney thinks its so

then it must be so.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. ABC....better late than never

I've known this since Super Tuesday.

[Hissyspit]

9. I told my Spring Semester students right after Super Duper Tuesday...

Obama is the nominee. Take it to the bank. I wonder if they recall that tonight.

[Purveyor]

5. Watching this history being made brings tears to this old man from the north eyes. eom

[DeschutesRiver]

10. I feel the same

as an old woman from the north.

I just flashed onto Fox News for a second, and they were listing the delegate count as 2128. There is nothing in my lifetime, other than being a young one during the civil rights movement, that has been more historically important. Nothing.

[Guava Jelly]

6. What a killer late birthday present

:) :woohoo:

[AtomicKitten]

8. I am so very proud to be a Democrat this evening.

:patriot:
:party:

[ampad]

13. Same here

Proud as hell!

[AZBlue]

15. And proud to be an American!

:hi:

[mvd]

12. Congrats, Obama!

Now let's go beat McSame in the fall!! :thumbsup:

[Imagevision]

14. I predict within 45 days McBush will be bouncing off the walls...

[Bluebear]

16. Congratulations to the United States!