28 August 2008

How Hillary rocked the roll-call vote

Wow. It may have been the most dramatic moment of this year's Democratic National Convention so far.

Last evening, during the state-by-state roll call vote for this year's Democratic presidental nomination, done in alphabetical order by state name, they eventually got to New York. And, when they got there, Senator Hillary Clinton claimed the microphone and spoke on behalf of the New York delegation. She asked that Senator Barack Obama be confirmed by acclamation. In other words, the roll call voting would cease, and a verbal affirmation would confirm Obama's candidacy. Impressive.

It worked, and the thunderous cries of "Yea" made history as Obama became the first African-American (actually, biracial) candidate to be nominated by one of the two major parties for the highest office in the land.

Just an hour or two previously, Hillary had released her delegates, which would allow them to vote for Obama. Many did, even as a minority held on to their votes for Hillary in a symbolic measure.

It took great strength and a lot of class for Hillary to do what she did last evening.

And, along with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton herself has made history.

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