In Historic Vote, Obama Officially Claims Democratic Nomination

With a theatrical flourish, the roll call vote was rushed to allow Hillary Clinton suspend the vote and "in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory," declare Obama the nominee by aclaimation.

"With eyes firmly fixed on the future, and in the spirit of unity with the goal of victory," Hillary Clinton said, "with faith in our party and our country, let's declare together with one voice right here, right now that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president."

The move seemed to melt away the tension and divisions of the past two days and prepare the way for Obama to take firm control of his own convention.

Biden accepted his nomination tonight with a broadside speech linking Republican John McCain, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, to the deeply unpopular foreign policies of President Bush.

"John McCain is my friend," Biden said. "But I profoundly disagree with the direction that John wants to take the country. For example, John thinks that during the Bush years 'we've made great progress economically.' I think it's been abysmal."

"And in the Senate, John sided with President Bush 95 percent of the time," he added. "Give me a break."