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Historic nomination

Split primary results give Obama the delegates to claim the nomination

Star-Bulletin news services

Sen. Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination yesterday evening, prevailing through an epic battle with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in a primary campaign that inspired millions of voters from every corner of America to demand change in Washington.

Obama Supporters Elated Over Win

Many supporters are happy for Obama's projected win and for making history as he becomes the first African-American nominee of a major political party.

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A last-minute rush of Democratic superdelegates, as well as split results from the final primaries in Montana and South Dakota, pushed Obama over the threshold of 2,118 delegates needed to be nominated at the party's convention in Denver in August.

The victory for Obama, the son of a black Kenyan father and white Kansan mother, broke racial barriers and represented a remarkable rise for a man who just four years ago served in the Illinois state Senate.

Clinton paid tribute to Obama, but she did not leave the race. In a combative speech, she again presented her case that she was the stronger candidate and argued that she had won the popular vote, a notion disputed by the Obama campaign.

Obama's victory moved the presidential campaign to a new phase as he tangled with Sen. John McCain of Arizona in televised addresses last night over Obama's assertion that McCain would continue President Bush's policies.