We have a winner: It’s Officially Obama versus McCain

The beginning of the end come about when the third most powerful Democrat, James Clyburn, announced he is endorsing Barack Obama. As the hour approached for the closing of polls in Montana and South Dakota on Tuesday evening, more and more superdelegates began declaring their endorsements as Senator Barack Obama moved closer and closer to the magic number for the Democratic Party nomination.

Photo: We have a winner: It’s Officially Obama versus McCain

However, Clinton won in South Dakota with 55% of the vote (9 delegates), while Obama received 45% of the vote (6 delegates), thus becoming the last primary state to go against change.

In Montana, Senator Obama won with 57% of the vote (9 delegates) and Clinton received 41% (7 delegates).

In St. Paul Minnesota, the site of the upcoming Republican Convention, Senator Obama made a victory speech declaring that he had become the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party. Some highlights from a very stirring speech:

“America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love.

The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth. This was the moment - this was the time - when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.”

Hillary Clinton had been expected to make a concession speech, but true to form, she ended up merely announcing that she was “not making any decisions tonight.” Former President Jimmy Carter said a “unity ticket” with Clinton on as Vice Presidential nominee would be “the worst mistake possible.”

On Monday, physicians for veteran Democrat Senator Ted Kennedy announced that the three-and-half hour brain surgery was a success. Parts of the surgery were performed while the Senator was conscious so that surgeons would know when they were getting too near to vital areas. He was diagnosed two weeks ago with malignant glioma after suffering two seizures.

Statistics reveal that only 33 percent of patients with this diagnosis live for more than five years, but many experimental treatments are being tested and the Senator will also be receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Sailboat races and swiftly walking through hospital halls, Senator Kennedy is a determined fighter, determined to beat this latest challenge. One of the first things that Senator Kennedy said after the surgery was that he was anxious to get back to work for the election of Senator Obama to the Presidency.

Republicans in New Mexico gave McCain 86% of their votes and 14% for Ron Paul. South Dakota also gave presumptive nominee John McCain an expected victory with 70%, while Ron Paul won 17% and Mike Huckabee received 7%.

Delegate Count:

Obama 2,156*

Clinton 1,923

Needed to win: 2,118

Lisa KARPOVA

PRAVDA.Ru

USA/CANADA