Clinton seeks — and gets — acclamation vote for Obama

By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 27, 2008 at 4:50 p.m.
Updated August 27, 2008 at 4:50 p.m.

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Photo by Joe Mahoney © The Rocky

Former President Bill Clinton addresses the crowd at the Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008.

Photo by AP

Photo by AP

The long-anticipated roll call of states wrapped up in jubilant fashion while avoiding the controversy some had predicted this afternoon with the official coronation of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for president.

The coup de grace came from Obama’s former rival herself, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who after the roll call of states reached New York, asked delegates to acclaim Obama’s nomination unanimously. It marked another effort by Clinton to put the divisive primaries behind the Democratic party and unite warring parties.

“On behalf of the great state of New York, with appreciation for the sprit and dedication of all who are gathered here, with eyes firmly fixed on the future, in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let’s declare together in one voice, right here right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate,” Clinton said.

The Pepsi Center crowd erupted in a deafening roar of enthusiasm.

Clinton continued: “I move that the convention suspend the procedural rules and suspend the further conduct of the the roll call … and I move Sen. Barack Obama be elected by this convention by acclamation as the nominee of the Democratic party.

That led to a call for a second from the convention floor.

The Pepsi Center shook with shouts of “Yes.”

Followed by: “All in favor of the motion to suspend the rules and nominate Barack Obama, please say ‘I.’

Then, to avoid any shout-outs from Clinton fans, it was announced “with two-thirds of delegates having voted” the nomination is accepted.

The Pepsi Center crowd erupted, and the song Love Train blasted through the arena as delegates swayed, danced and whooped it up - a long, stressful nominating process safely behind them and the party - at least at this moment in time - appearing to be utterly united.

Excitement spread across the floor about 30 minutes into the process, as it became obvious that Obama was gathering the vast majority of delegates and any sense of drama or any outbursts from die-hard Clinton supporters appeared increasingly unlikely.

The big point spread suggested many delegates heeded the call of Clinton issued Tuesday night, and again in a personal appearance before her supporters today, and switched their vote to Obama in an effort to show a unified party.

Colorado was among the states to go easily to Obama, at 55 to 15.

• August 27, 2008

  6:48 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  bill1020 writes:

  Perhaps it's a small point but what happened shows a high degree of sophistication by Senator Clinton's team, and perhaps the degree of detailed negotiations between the Clinton and Obama teams before she came into the hall. It is also a point is likely to be overlooked for the immediate future as we all focus on the symbolism of what happened. The Senator's motion included a sentence or two that the actual delegate votes of the various states be counted for the record. So while she did call for acclamation, Senator Clinton also ensured that the delegate votes that were brought into the Pepsi Center be a part of the formal record. As a result, she receives "props" for being a unifying force, but she also ensures that a formal record is saved of the actual number of delegate votes she would have received had all the delegates' votes been cast. I'm not saying any of this is bad, just that there's an awful lot going on in a convention once you get past the hooping and hollering and the symbolism.

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