Los Angeles
04 June 2008
Barack Obama claimed the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Tuesday, after winning a majority of delegates to the party's nominating convention, which will be held in August. Mike O'Sullivan reports that Obama claimed victory as the primary election season came to an end, with contests in Montana and South Dakota.
"Now, the question is, where do we go from here? And, given how far we've come and where we need to go as a party, it's a question I don't take lightly," she said. "This has been a long campaign and I will be making no decisions tonight."
She says she will consult with supporters and party officials before making her decision.
There have been harsh words exchanged during the campaign, but Senator Clinton said she was honored to compete against Barack Obama and to call him friend.
Senator Obama also had praise for his rival.
"When we transform our energy policy and lift our children out of poverty, it will be because she worked to help make it happen," he said. "Our party and our country are better off because of her and I am a better candidate for having had the honor to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton."
Each candidate has earned impressive primary and caucus wins in a hard-fought campaign season, and to the end both candidates scored victories. Obama won Tuesday in Montana and Clinton took South Dakota. Some Democrats are hoping for a so-called "dream ticket" that would pair the two, with Obama as presidential nominee and Clinton as vice-presidential running mate.
The presumed Republican candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain, set his sights on the general election in remarks to his supporters Tuesday in Louisiana. Noting that Obama has campaigned on the theme of change, McCain said Americans are distressed with many changes they now see, from high energy and food prices to job losses.
"This is indeed a change election. No matter who wins this election, the direction of this country is going to change dramatically," he said. "But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change, between going forward and going backward."
McCain promised sweeping reform of government if he is elected.