The Democratic Party has formally nominated Senator Barack Obama as its presidential candidate. Obama becomes the first African American major party nominee in US history. The historic moment came after Senator Hillary Clinton walked onto the floor of the convention hall and asked Democratic delegates to suspend their count and back Obama by acclamation.

Sen. Hillary Clinton: “Madame Secretary, I move that the convention suspend the procedural rules and suspend the further conduct of the roll-call vote — all votes cast by the delegates will be counted — and that I move Senator Barack Obama of Illinois be selected by this convention by acclamation as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the roll call.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “All in favor of the motion to suspend the rules and nominate by acclamation Barack Obama as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, please say aye. All those opposed, please say no. Two-thirds of the delegates having voted in the affirmative, the motion is adopted.”