Denver, Colo. — Barack Obama urged Americans today to believe that he had the capability to deliver on the promise of change to the nation and the world that attracted millions to his historic campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.In becoming the first African-American, major-party presidential nominee, the Illinois senator also called for a politically united nation to confront the economic and national security problems that await the next president in January.
“America, our work will not be easy,” Obama told an audience of roughly 84,000 at Invesco Field at Mile High as the Democratic National Convention in Denver came to a close. “The challenges we face require tough choices, and Democrats, as well as Republicans, will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past.”
In accepting the nomination, Obama symbolically ended a grueling, 19-month nominating campaign that was first stamped by his decisive win in Iowa’s leadoff nominating caucuses in January .
And with just 68 days until the election, Obama launched a full-throated attack of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. Obama painted his rival as an ally of President Bush on key economic and national security issues.Obama said McCain, who is scheduled to accept the GOP nomination in St. Paul next week, is to be respected for his military service. The Arizona senator is a Vietnam War veteran and former prisoner of war.
Obama’s campaign moved the convention’s final day from the Pepsi Center arena to the football stadium to allow thousands more people to attend.
“I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring,” he said.Obama, son of an African father and white Midwestern mother, is the black nominee of a major political party.
The significance of Obama’s landmark nomination was punctuated by his acceptance speech given on the 45th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s iconic “I have a dream speech” in 1965. The timing was a coincidence, considering the convention had been scheduled for months, before the nominee was decided.Obama invoked the moment as a reminder of what he called “the American promise.”
“At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise – that American promise – and in the words of Scripture, 'Hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.’
”Cedar Rapids Democrat Dale Todd, an early supporter of Obama in Iowa, described the speech as groundbreaking. “It established for the Democratic Party a new culture of political leadership,” he said. “How we govern as a country and how we are seen in the world’s eye will be fundamentally different from here out.”
Des Moines Democrat Jerry Crawford, who was a leading supporter of Hillary Clinton, described the speech as politically savvy. “It was plain spoken, policy driven and had a lot of great lines,” Crawford said.
“Obama knows what is coming at him next week and he wisely threw the first punch.” Ames delegate Stephanie Imhoff said the speech had people of all ages around her in the stadium in tears. Obama’s call to Americans to join together was most meaningful point he made, she said.
By THOMAS BEAUMONT • August 28, 2008
DENVER - AUGUST 28: Democratic U.S. Vice-Presidential nominee Joe Biden (D-DE) (2nd-R), Democratic U.S. Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) (2nd-L), Malia Obama (L), Jill Biden (R) and Michelle Obama (3rd-L) stand on stage after Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at Invesco Field at Mile High at the 2008 Democratic National Convention (DNC)
DENVER - AUGUST 28: (L-R) Michelle Obama, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) stand on stage delegates after he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at Invesco Field at Mile High at the 2008 Democratic National Convention (DNC)
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (C) stands with his wife Michelle (R) with children Malia (3rd R) and Sasha (2nd R) and with vice presidential nominee Joe Biden (2nd L) and wife Jill (L) and. at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado August 28, 2008. 
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