Obama is officially the nominee
On Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. was officially named the Democratic nominee in the race for the White House, and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., was officially named his running mate.
Obama is the first African American running on the Democratic ticket in the General Election.
In his remarks after receiving the nomination for Vice President, Biden said Obama is a "great American story" and talked up the young Illinois senator, who is very much his junior in terms of tenure in the upper house. He also criticized Republican rival U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona -- whom he referred to as a "friend" of more than three decades -- and, in step with current Democratic parlance, equated four years of McCain to four more years of President Bush.
"I profoundly disagree with the direction that John wants to take this country," Biden said.
At the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night and Wednesday night, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and her husband former President Bill Clinton cleared up any suspicion of who they're backing in the general election (not excluding themselves).
In a speech before the delegation on Tuesday night, Hillary Clinton referred to her former primary rival Obama as "my candidate", adding "He must be our president."
"I am honored to be here tonight," Clinton said as she began the speech. "A proud mother. A proud Democrat. A proud American. And a proud supporter of Barack Obama."
On Wednesday night, Bill Clinton also threw his support behind Obama.
"Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she'll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama," he said. "That makes two of us."
Both Clintons' speeches come after some rumblings within the delegation regarding a number of delegates that supported Hillary Clinton in the primary and are none too happy with the prospect of Obama winning the ticket. That, of course, comes after a markedly aggressive primary battle between Obama and Hillary Clinton (and sometimes Bill).
Hillary Clinton's name was on a roll call ballot, but the vote was stopped on Wednesday after about 1,600 ballots came in from delegates in support of Obama.
Obama is scheduled to speak somewhere between 9 and 10 pm on Thursday night. Swing by The Blue Note at 17 N. 9th St. to check out the watch party. Also scheduled to speak on Thursday is Former Vice President Al Gore and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D. Calif.