DENVER — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton summoned the millions of voters who supported her in the primaries to send Barack Obama to the White House, and drew thunderous applause at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night when she declared her one-time rival is “my candidate and he must be our president.”
“We don’t have a moment to lose or a vote to spare,” said the former first lady, writing the final chapter in a quest for the White House every bit as pioneering as Obama’s own.
The packed convention floor became a sea of white “Hillary” signs as the New York senator — Obama’s fiercest rival across 56 primaries and caucuses — strode to the podium for her prime-time speech. The signs were soon replaced by others that read simply, “Unity.”
While her remarks included a full-throated endorsement of Obama, Clinton did not say whether she would have her name placed in nomination or seek a formal roll call of the states when the party’s top prize is awarded by delegates tonight.
Clinton had been the prohibitive favorite for the nomination she launched her campaign last year, seeking to become the first female president. But she fell behind Obama after the leadoff Iowa caucuses in January, and he now is poised to become the first black nominee of a major party.
Obama turned the featured speaking slot of the convention’s second night over to Clinton, hoping she could nudge her disenchanted supporters toward his candidacy.
He called her after her speech to express his appreciation, aides said.
She followed others to the podium who ripped into Republican Sen. John McCain as indifferent to the working class and cozy with big oil.
“If he’s the answer, then the question must be ridiculous,” New York Gov. David Paterson said of the GOP presidential candidate.
Said Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, “It’s time to bring our jobs back and bring our troops home.”
“Call the roll!” urged Ted Sorensen, a party elder eager to propel Obama toward the White House.
Not yet.
Obama’s formal nomination was set for tonight. First came Clinton.
The convention hall was packed for her appearance, so much so that officials sealed the entrances.
Calling herself a “proud supporter of Obama,” Clinton dismissed McCain with a few choice words.
“No way. No how. No McCain,” she said as the hall erupted in cheers.
“We don’t need four more years … of the last eight years,” she added.
Like other failed candidates at conventions past, Clinton recalled her own quest for the White House.
“You taught me so much, you made me laugh and … you even made me cry,” she said to supporters in the Pepsi Center and millions more watching on nationwide television.
“You allowed me to become part of your lives, and you became part of mine.”
“I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me?” she asked.
Despite lingering unhappiness among some delegates nursing grievances over Clinton’s loss, party chairman Howard Dean declared the convention determined to make Obama the nation’s 44th president. “There is not a unity problem. If anyone doubts that, wait till you see Hillary Clinton’s speech,” he said.
In the convention keynote address, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner said Obama will “appeal to us not as Republicans or Democrats, but first and foremost as Americans.” He added, “We need leaders who see our common ground as sacred ground.”
In contrast to many of speeches delivered earlier in the day, out of prime time, Warner’s remarks were more a sketch of the “post-partisan” possibilities that Obama often speaks of, rather than criticism of McCain and President Bush.
“I know we’re at the Democratic National Convention, but if an idea works, it really doesn’t matter if it has an ‘R’ or ‘D’ next to it,” he said.
Obama delivers his acceptance speech Thursday night at a Denver football stadium. An estimated 75,000 tickets have been distributed for the event.
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