Obama clinches nomination for President

WASHINGTON: Barack Obama has clinched the Democratic nomination for president, becoming the first African-American in the US history to lead a major-party ticket, the CNN projects.
 
Senator Obama will declare himself the Democratic presidential nominee in a long-time-coming victory speech while reaching out to defeated rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, according to his campaign.
 
"Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States," he is expected to say.
 
The Illinois senator defeated the former first lady and one-time campaign front-runner Clinton in a 17-month marathon for the Democratic nomination.
 
Clinton does not plan to concede the race, campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe told CNN -- but one of her leading supporters said "a moment of truth" was at hand.
 
"I think a decision has to be made about whether keeping this nomination wide open is in the best interest of winning in November," said Sen Dianne Feinstein, D-California.
 
"I do not believe that it is, and I'm a very strong supporter of Hillary being placed on ticket as a vice presidential candidate," Feinstein said.
 
Two New York lawmakers told CNN yesterday that Clinton expressed willingness during a conference call to serve as Obama's running mate in November.
 
Obama picked up a slew of superdelegate endorsements on Tuesday. Those endorsements helped him to cross the 2,118 threshold.
 
The Illinois senator has bagged 2119 delegates, whereas Clinton won 1921 delegates, according to CNN.