US:DEMOCRATS YESTERDAY hailed Hillary Clinton's speech to the national convention as the act of healing the party needed to ensure it enters the final stage of the US presidential campaign united behind Barack Obama, writes Denis Stauntonin Denver.
Mr Obama called Mrs Clinton after her speech to congratulate her and thank her for her support.
The candidate, who was in Billings, Montana, also spoke to former US president Bill Clinton to say Mrs Clinton could not have made a better case for change.
In her keenly anticipated speech to the convention, Mrs Clinton made a powerful plea for Democratic party unity, urging the 18 million people who voted for her to move swiftly behind Mr Obama as their party's presidential nominee.
"Whether you voted for me or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose," she said. "We are on the same team and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines."
Mrs Clinton's keenly anticipated speech to the Democratic National Convention in Denver last night was interrupted a number of times by sustained standing ovations, and some supporters wept during her remarks.
The speech was introduced by a video celebrating Mrs Clinton's presidential bid, which was narrated by her daughter Chelsea and featured a cameo appearance by Mr Clinton, who was identified simply as "Hillary's husband".
Mrs Clinton's endorsement of Mr Obama was clearer and less ambiguous than some Democrats had feared after a fraught, 18-month primary campaign.
Declaring herself "a proud supporter of Barack Obama", the former first lady told her supporters that their efforts would be wasted if Republican John McCain wins November's election.
"You haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership," she said.
"No way. No how. No McCain. Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president."
Mrs Clinton spent a large part of her speech recalling the key issues of her campaign, including universal healthcare and economic security, and she paid tribute to those who had backed her.
"To my supporters, my champions - my sisterhood of the travelling pantsuits - from the bottom of my heart: thank you.
You never gave in. You never gave up. And together we made history," she said.
She made clear to supporters, up to a quarter of whom tell pollsters they will vote for Mr McCain, that the best way to fulfil the aims of her campaign was to vote for Mr Obama.
"I want you to ask yourselves: were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it . . . for all the people in this country who feel invisible?" she said.
"We don't have a moment to lose or a vote to spare. Nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hang in the balance."
Republicans noted that, despite Mrs Clinton's backing of Mr Obama, she did not explicitly state that he was qualified to be president or retract any of her past criticisms of him.
"Nowhere in that speech did she answer the question about his character, his ability to lead, the things that are at issue here," former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said yesterday.
"And until she does, you're going to have a lot of Hillary Clinton supporters that are either not going to vote . . . or are going to vote for John McCain."
The spotlight at the convention was set to remain on the Clintons last night as Mr Clinton spoke and Mrs Clinton's name was submitted for nomination alongside Mr Obama's.