From here:

Obama Clinches Democratic Race

Sen. Barack Obama has claimed the Democratic presidential nomination after outdistancing rival Sen. Hillary Clinton in a history-making campaign that has energized the party’s base.

Obama’s declaration Tuesday night came in the same Minnesota arena where Sen. John McCain will officially accept the Republican nomination for president in September.

“Because of you, tonight I can stand here and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America,” he told cheering supporters.

Obama was magnanimous to Clinton, who has so far declined to officially withdraw her candidacy.

Speaking of the New York senator, he said she had “made history not just because she is a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she is a leader who inspires millions of Americans.”

While Clinton refused to concede the race outright, she told supporters Tuesday night that she was “committed to uniting our party so that we move forward, stronger and more ready than ever to take back the White House this November.”

Obama promised to steer away from divisiveness in the general election and acknowledged his presumptive opponent in the general election.

“We honor the service of John McCain and I respect his many accomplishments even if he chooses to deny mine,” he said.

Now, the big question becomes Hillary. What’s her next step?

Tags: barack obama, obama, Politics, president