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CNN Live Event/Special
Roll Call; Obama Nominated by Acclamation
Aired August 27, 2008 - 17:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: All right, John, hold on one second. The roll call is about to begin.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), CALIFORNIA: The roll call of the states to nominate the Democrat Party's candidate for the 44th president of the United States. Following the roll call, all tally sheets will be collected and all delegate votes will be counted.
Please welcome Democratic National Convention Secretary Alice Travis Germond. I will now ask our convention secretary to call the roll of the states.
ALICE TRAVIS GERMOND, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION SECRETARY: Thank you, Speaker Pelosi, and thank you.
Now, according to the rules, past -- now, according to the rules passed by this convention, following the nominating speeches for president, we proceed immediately to the roll call. The roll call shall continue until we have a nominee whom I believe will be our next president.
It is now my honor to begin with the great state of Alabama. Alabama, you have 60 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Madam Secretary. The great state of Alabama, one of the most diverse delegations in this hall, a state that is ready to cast the first votes of this convention for the next president of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The great state of Alabama casts 48 votes for Barack Obama.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary, the great state of Alabama casts five votes for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
GERMOND: Thank you, Alabama. Alabama cast 48 votes for Senator Obama and five for Senator Clinton.
The next state is Alaska. You have 18 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Madam Secretary. The great battleground state of Alaska, the Frontier State that's turning blue up and down the ticket -- we will be electing Ethan Berkowitz as our next U.S. representative and Mark Begich as our next U.S. senator. And they will bring you real Alaska energy to Congress.
We proudly cast three votes for the brilliant stateswoman who put those 18 cracks in the ceiling -- three votes for Hillary Clinton.
And we proudly cast 15 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama.
GERMOND: Alaska. Alaska casts 15 votes for Senator Obama and three votes for Senator Clinton.
American Samoa, you have nine votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
Madam Secretary, in this year's most historical presidential election, the territory of American Samoa proudly honors and recognizes the thousands of her sons and daughters who serve in the armed forces of our nation, and many of her military veterans who fought and died valiantly in defense of our nation throughout the world.
Madam Secretary, American Samoa proudly casts her nine precious votes and also pays a special tribute to her closest neighboring state, a true friend and ohana (ph) to our Samoan people, the 50th state, the Aloha State, Hawaii, for having produced and nurtured her first native born son, soon to be the next president of the United States -- Barack Obama!
GERMOND: Thank you, American Samoa.
American Samoa casts all nine votes for Senator Obama.
Arizona. Arizona, you have 67 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madame Chair, Arizona, the land of endless blue skies -- and we're also turning blue -- and on behalf of our great Governor Janet Napolitano, our great attorney general Terry Goddard and the great tribal president of the Navajo Tribe, Joe Shirley, we proudly cast 40 votes for Senator Barack Obama, 27 votes for Senator Hillary Clinton.
GERMOND: Thank you, Arizona. Arizona casts 40 votes for Senator Obama and 27 votes for Senator Clinton.
Arkansas. Arkansas, you have 47 votes.
REBECCA GWATNEY, ARKANSAS DELEGATE: This is Rebecca Gwatney on behalf of the great state of Arkansas, the adopted home of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, a state that provided her with her largest margin of 70 percent in the 2008 Democratic primary, and a state with an admiration for the Clintons that is unmatched throughout this country.
I am proud tonight to follow Senator Clinton's call for unity and to unite behind Senator Barack Obama, and elect him the next president of the United States.
GERMOND: Thank you, Arkansas. Thank you, Rebecca Gwatney. Arkansas casts 47 votes for Barack Obama. (CHEERS)
GERMOND: California. California.
(CHEERS)
GERMOND: California, you have 441 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam Chairman, Madam Chairman, the great state of California, home to the most dynamic, diverse and talented people, home to a magnificent environment, home to the world's greatest agricultural, high-tech and entertainment communities and home to the brave firefighters and service members who keep us safe, will proudly cast its vote today. Art Torres.
ART TORRES, CHAIRMAN, CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY: California passes.
GERMOND: Thank you, Chairman Torres. California passes.
Colorado. And thank you, Colorado, for this wonderful convention. Colorado, you have 70 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Chairwoman, from the snow-capped majestic Rocky Mountain peaks to the high plains with amber waves of grain, from the magnificent San Luis Valley to Denver, the proud hosts of this historic national convention.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The state of Colorado is proud to be casting the Democratic votes of our many wonderful cities, towns, farms and ranches.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The state of Colorado casts 55 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama! And 15 votes for Senator Hillary Clinton.
GERMOND: Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Colorado has 55 votes for Senator Obama and 15 votes for Senator Clinton.
Connecticut. Connecticut, you have 60 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good evening, Madam Secretary. Connecticut, the state which had the first written constitution in North America, thus nicknamed the Constitution State, and the home of the fiercest defender of our Constitution, U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd, proudly casts 38 votes for Senator Barack Obama and 21 votes for Senator Hillary Clinton.
GERMOND: Thank you, Connecticut. Connecticut proudly casts 38 votes for Senator Obama and 21 votes for Senator Clinton.
The next state is Delaware. And congratulations, Delaware.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Delaware, Delaware, you have 23 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary. Delaware, the first state in the United States, and now the home of the vice president of the United States, casts its votes unanimously and with great pride for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Delaware, you have cast your 23 votes for Senator Obama. Thank you so much.
Democrats abroad, Democrats throughout the world, you have 11 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam Secretary, Democrats abroad represent millions of Americans living around the world. We request our absentee ballots at votefromabroad.org.
We vote from over 160 countries. And we vote in every state across America. We look to our Democratic leadership to engage with the world, because we are stronger when we work together. We are proud to be Americans. We are proud to be Democrats. And we are proud to cast 2.5 vote for Hillary Clinton, and we are proud to cast 8.5 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Democrats Abroad. Thank you, Democrats watching us all over the world. Democrats Abroad cast 8.5 votes for Senator Obama and 2.5 votes for Senator Clinton.
District of Columbia, District of Columbia, you have 40 votes. How do you cast them?
ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON (D), WASHINGTON, D.C. DELEGATE: The District of Columbia, the capital of the great United States of America, on behalf of 600,000 American citizens who seek equal treatment as American citizens, who pay federal taxes, and support the government of the United States, who have fought and died in every war, including the war that established the United States of America, proudly casts 33 votes for the co-sponsor of the D.C. Voting Rights Act, the next -- the next president of the United States, Barack Obama...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
NORTON ... and -- and proudly casts seven votes for Senator Hillary Clinton.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Congresswoman Norton. Thank you so much.
The District of Columbia casts 33 vote for Senator Barack Obama and seven votes for Senator Clinton.
Florida.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Welcome, Florida.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam Chairman, the great state of...
GERMOND: Florida, Florida, you have 211 votes.
How -- full votes, Chairwoman Thurman, how do you cast them?
KAREN THURMAN, FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN: We are the great state of Florida, the Sunshine State, 833 miles above from sea to shining sea. And we believe in one vote for one person.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
THURMAN: And we have cast those votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama, 136, for Hillary Clinton, 51, and one abstention.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Florida. And we are so happy you're here. Florida casts 166 votes for Senator Barack Obama and 51 votes for Senator Clinton.
Georgia.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Georgia, the state where I was born, Georgia, you have 102 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, fellow Democrats and friends, we bring you greetings from the great state of Georgia, the 13th state in our union, birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... home today of those who carry on his great and enduring legacy, leaders like the Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery and Congressman John Lewis, where we acclaim and cherish our statesmen who have led our nation with wise and steady hands, statesman like President Jimmy Carter and Sam Nunn...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
SHIRLEY FRANKLIN, MAYOR OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA: ... and where we look to the future with an optimistic gaze, because Georgia knows that hope is on the horizon and our future is bright indeed.
Madam Chairman, we, the empire state of the South, the jewel of the South, the great state of Georgia, is proud to cast 18 votes for Senator Hillary Clinton and 82 votes for the next president of the United States, Senator Barack Obama! (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Georgia, the great state of Georgia, and thank you, Mayor Franklin. Thank you for your service.
Georgia casts 82 votes for Senator Obama and 18 votes for Senator Hillary Clinton.
Guam. Guam, you have nine votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam Secretary, and fellow Democrats, from the island of Guam, where America's day begins, where we seek self- determination, war reparations, and the right to self-determination, our delegation proudly casts the following votes, four for Senator Barack Obama...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... three for Senator Hillary Clinton.
Viva Guam. Viva Democrats.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Guam.
May I ask you, would you please repeat your vote? It's a little bit loud in the hall. And, unfortunately, we didn't quite get it. And I want to make sure we get it right. We Democrats count our votes just right.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Guam casts four votes for Senator Barack Obama and three votes for Senator Hillary Clinton.
Thank you very much, Madam Secretary.
GERMOND: Thank you, Guam. And thank you for repeating your votes.
Guam casts four votes for Senator Obama and three votes for Senator Clinton.
Hawaii. Hawaii, you have 29 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My fellow Americans, my fellow Democrats, Hawaii, the last of aloha and love, the birthplace of our next president of the United States...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... is proud to cast for our native son the following votes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We proudly cast 26 votes for the next president of the United States, Senator Barack Obama, and one vote for Senator Hillary Clinton.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Hawaii.
Hawaii casts 26 votes for Senator Obama and one vote for Senator Clinton.
Idaho. Idaho, you have 23 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary, Idaho, the Gem State, where the sun first touches the mountains, birthplace of Sacajawea, proud home of the Kutenai, Coeur d'Alene, Nez Perce, Shoshone-Bannock, and Paiute tribes, the state that has given stellar Democratic leadership through such elected officials as Senator Frank Church, Governor Cecil Andrus, Governor John Evans, and Congressman Richard Stallings, the state where tens of thousands of brand-new Democrats are joining hands, Democrats of all ages and occupations, determined to turn crimson to turquoise, and they will in two short months send Debbie Holmes and Walt Minnick to the United States House of Representatives, and Larry LaRocco to the United States Senate, the state that gave Barack Obama his largest winning margin in the primary season proudly casts three votes for Senator Hillary Clinton and 20 votes for our adopted favorite son, the next president of the United States, Barack Obama!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Idaho casts 20 votes for Senator Obama and three votes for Senator Clinton.
Illinois.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Illinois, you have 185 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Illinois will pass.
GERMOND: Illinois passes.
Indiana. Indiana, you have 85 votes. How do you cast them?
DENNIE OXLEY (D), INDIANA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: Madam Secretary, my name is Dennie Oxley, and I will be the next lieutenant governor of the great state of Indiana.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
OXLEY: The Hoosier State, home of Senator Evan Bayh, the Hoosier State, Madam Secretary, we proudly cast six votes for Senator Hillary Clinton and 75 votes for the next president of the United States, Senator Barack Obama.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Indiana. Indiana casts 75 votes for Senator Obama and six votes for Senator Clinton.
Iowa. Iowa, where it all began, Iowa, you have 57 votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Madam Chair.
My name is Jacob Gropple (ph). I'm a veteran. And having proudly served two tours in Iraq, I stand here today in the same combat boots I wore in Baghdad to honor the brave men and women in uniform.
Tonight, I represent the great state of Iowa, where it all started for Barack Obama.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back on a cold winter's night in January, Iowans planted the seeds for a new field of dreams for America with Barack Obama's campaign for change.
And now it is an honor and my distinct privilege to announce that the Iowa delegation is united for change, with 48 votes for Barack Obama and nine votes for Senator Hillary Clinton.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Iowa. Iowa casts 48 votes for Senator Obama and nine votes for Senator Clinton.
Kansas. Kansas, you have got 41 votes. How do you cast them?
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary, Kansas, the birthplace of the grandparents of Barack Obama...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... and the home of Barack Obama's momma, a pioneer in wind energy, and the home of the greatest governor in the United States, Kathleen Sebelius, and where we will elect Jim Slattery to the United States Senate in 2008, and the home of the great university system, including the Orange Bowl champion Kansas Jayhawks and the NCAA champions Kansas Jayhawks in basketball, very proudly casts six votes for Senator Hillary Clinton and 34 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Kansas. Thank you, to our heartland.
Kansas casts 34 votes for Senator Obama and six votes for Senator Clinton.
Kentucky. Kentucky, you have 60 votes. How do you cast them?
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) JENNIFER MOORE, KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR: Madam Secretary, my name is Jennifer Moore. And I'm the youngest chair in the country. And we are working hard every day across the commonwealth to turn the Bluegrass blue. And we're...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MOORE: And We're going to continue to turn it blue this year under the great leadership of our governor, Steve Beshear.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GOV. STEVE BESHEAR (D), KENTUCKY: Madam Secretary, the great Commonwealth of Kentucky, whose vibrant economy has captured the world's attention by hosting the Ryder Cup this September, and, in 2010, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, proudly casts 24 votes for Senator Hillary Clinton, and on the celebration and anniversary and bicentennial of that great American Abraham Lincoln, proudly casts 36 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Governor.
Kentucky casts 36 votes for Senator Obama and 24 votes for Senator Clinton.
Louisiana.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Louisiana, you have 67 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Louisiana, the home of gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish pie, and also shrimp in the recovery from Katrina, proudly casts 43 votes for Obama.
And here is my colleague, my chair, who will now...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Louisiana, home of the fighting Tigers, Jaguars, and the fighting Mary Landrieu, seven votes for Hillary Clinton.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Louisiana, thank you for your votes. So, we may be sure we have an accurate recording, would you please restate your vote count?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Restating our vote, 43 for Obama, seven for Hillary Clinton.
GERMOND: Thank you so much. Louisiana casts 43 votes for Senator Obama and seven votes for Senator Clinton.
Maine. The great state of Maine, 32 votes. How do you cast them?
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
JOHN KNUTSON, MAINE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR: Madam Secretary, I'm John Knutson, chair of the Maine Democratic Party. I have with me here Marianne Steven, our vice chair, Congressman Mike Michaud from our 2nd District.
Here we have our wonderful, wonderful governor, John Baldacci. And we're so proud to be here.
The sun comes up in Maine first in the nation. And we feel very honored to be -- to have that as our singular, whatever, privilege.
(LAUGHTER)
KNUTSON: As Maine goes -- you have heard this before -- so goes the nation.
We are the home of Congressman Tom Allen, the man who will take back George Mitchell's seat in the U.S. Senate and move us towards the 60 senator that we desperately want to have. The great state of Maine proudly casts eight votes for Senator Hillary Clinton and 24 votes for Senator Barack Obama, the next president of the United States.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Maine. And thank you for your wonderful delegation. Maine casts 24 votes for Senator Obama and eight votes for Senator Clinton.
Maryland.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Maryland, you have 100 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Chair, the great state of Maryland, that state around which other states rally in times of great adversity, Maryland, the original land of the free and home of the brave, is proud to call upon our distinguished son, the honorable Congressman Elijah Cummings, to give Maryland's votes.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: Madam Chair, the great state of Maryland, the birthplace of our speaker, Nancy Pelosi...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
CUMMINGS: ... the birthplace of Harriet Tubman, and the birthplace of "The Star-Spangled Banner," we cast, proudly, our votes for two great Americans, six votes for Hillary Clinton, 94 votes for the next president of the United States of America!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) GERMOND: Thank you, Maryland. Thank you, Governor. Thank you, Representative.
Maryland casts 94 votes for Senator Obama and six votes for Senator Clinton.
GERMOND: Massachusetts.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Massachusetts, you have 121 votes. How do you cast them?
THERESE MURRAY (D), MASSACHUSETTS STATE SENATOR: The great state of Massachusetts -- and I'm joined here -- I'm Senator Therese Murray, the first woman president of the Massachusetts...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: And I'm joined by my co-chair, first African-American governor, Deval Patrick.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: We are the home of Senator Ted Kennedy...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: ... the home of the winning Boston Red Sox...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: ... the home of the winning Boston Celtics...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: ... the home of the New England Patriots.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: We are the pioneer in universal health care.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: We are the birthplace of education.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: And we are first in equality in marriage in the United States.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
MURRAY: Massachusetts proudly casts its votes, 52 for Hillary Clinton.
GOV. DEVAL PATRICK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: And 65 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Massachusetts.
Massachusetts casts 65 votes for Senator Obama and 52 votes for Senator Clinton.
GERMOND: Michigan. Welcome, Michigan.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Michigan, you have 157 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sister Secretary, from the state that has been most devastated by the unfair, failed trade and economic policy of George W. Bush and John McCain, that have shipped our jobs overseas, pushed our gas prices to $4 a gallon, and left all of our children behind, from the state, we have most to gain from Barack Obama's presidency, to create jobs by investing in renewable fuel and retooling our manufacturing sector, Michigan tonight proudly casts 27 votes for Senator Hillary Clinton and proudly casts 125 votes for the next president, Barack Obama!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Michigan. Thank you, Michigan. Michigan casts 125 votes for Senator Barack Obama and 27 votes for Senator Clinton.
Minnesota.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Minnesota, you have 88 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam Chair, Minnesota, the home of the winning college Duluth women's hockey team...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... Minnesota, the state that believes in the power of people and always has the highest voter turnout in the country...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... on this 60th anniversary of Minnesota's own Hubert Humphrey's electrifying Democratic Convention speech, in which he challenged our country to seize a historic opportunity, Minnesota is proud to be part of this historic convention of change.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Minnesota, which helped launch the draft Obama movement, and Minnesota, where hundreds of volunteers and citizens came out in a record-setting caucus, now stands ready to serve a president who can bring out the very best in every American.
We proudly cast eight votes for Hillary Clinton and 78 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Minnesota.
Minnesota casts 78 votes for Senator Obama and eight votes, eight votes for Senator Clinton.
AUDIENCE: Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!
GERMOND: Yes, we can.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Mississippi. Mississippi, you have 41 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary, we, Mississippi, home of the late Fannie Lou Hamer...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... and the home of blues, proudly casts eight votes for Hillary Clinton and 31 -- 33 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Mississippi.
Mississippi casts 31 votes for Senator Obama and eight votes for Senator Clinton.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thirty-three. Thirty-three votes.
GERMOND: I stand corrected. Mississippi casts 33 votes for Senator Obama and eight votes for Senator Clinton? Are we correct this time?
Thank you.
Missouri.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: You have 88 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary, the great state of Missouri, the Show Me State, home of Harry Truman...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... home of Claire McCaskill, home of this united group of congressional members and statewide candidates and statewide officeholders, the bellwether state of the United States, we cast six votes for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and 82 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Missouri casts 82 votes for Senator Obama and six votes for Senator Clinton.
Montana.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: And thank you for that great speech from your governor last night.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Montana, you have 25 votes. How do you cast them?
DENNIS MCDONALD, MONTANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR: Madam Secretary, I'm Dennis McDonald, chair of the Montana Democratic Party, a cattle rancher from Melville, Montana, attending here my first national convention.
CAROL WILLIAMS (D), MONTANA STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: And I'm Senator Carol Williams from Missoula, Montana, the first woman majority leader in the state of from Montana.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
WILLIAMS: I am from Butte and the great city of Missoula, Montana, the home of Norman Maclean and the river runs through us goes through my district. And I want you to know that also our great senator, Mike Mansfield, from Montana, was from Missoula and Butte as well.
MCDONALD: Madam Secretary, on behalf of the folks of the great state of Montana, that stretches from the golden prairies of the western end -- the eastern end of our state to the Rocky Mountains in the west that forms the backbone of the continental divide, from the nation's oldest national park, Yellow Stone, and the crown jewel of our park systems, Glacier Park in the north, the home of Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to the United States Congress, it's big sky country, the home of sovereign Native American tribal governments, and last but not least, the home of that great speaker last night, Brian Schweitzer, Brian himself a cattle rancher from Geyser, Montana, and the home of two of the United States Senate's finest members, Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and that long-time third generation farmer, from Big Sandy, Montana, Senator John Tester.
WILLIAMS: We are welcoming our 20 percent of our delegates who are Native Americans, maybe the highest percentage of any delegation in the country, and I am attending my first convention as a delegate, as the chair of our delegation and as a delegate for Hillary Rodham Clinton. And Montana proudly supports with seven of our votes my friend, Hillary Rodham Clinton, America's friend, Hillary Rodham Clinton, the senator from New York.
MCDONALD: Madam Secretary, as a united Montana Democratic Party, we cast 18 votes for the next president of the United States, Senator Barack Obama!
GERMOND: Thank you, Montana. Montana proudly casts 18 votes for Senator Obama and 7 votes for Senator Clinton.
Nebraska -- Nebraska, you have 31 votes. How do you cast them?
SEN. BEN NELSON (D), NEBRASKA: Madam Chairman, my name is Ben Nelson and I proudly serve in the United States Senate for the great state of Nebraska. Nebraska, home of that statesman, great statesman, William Jennings Bryan, who received the Democratic nomination for president here in Denver exactly 100 years ago, Nebraska, home of the unicameral legislature, leading the way for common sense and bipartisan consensus, Nebraska, home of the Cornhuskers, who unite all Nebraskans, Democrats, Republicans and Independents on game day Saturday, proudly casts 3 votes for Senator Clinton and 28 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama!
GERMOND: Thank you Nebraska. Nebraska casts 28 votes for Senator Obama and 3 votes for Senator Clinton.
Thank you, Senator Nelson.
Nevada -- Nevada, you have 34 votes. How do you cast them?
REP. SHELLEY BERKLEY (D), NEBRASKA: Thank you, Madam Secretary. I'm Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, from the great state of Nevada, the battleworn state that's the battleground state in the 2008 presidential election and home to Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid. Nevada casts 8 votes for Senator Hillary Clinton, 25 votes for Senator Barack Obama, because he has a vision for the west, investing in renewable energy, caring for our veterans and keeping nuclear waste out of Yucca Mountains.
GERMOND: Thank you, Congresswoman.
Nevada proudly casts 25 votes for Senator Obama and 8 votes for Senator Clinton. Thank you, Nevada.
GERMOND: New Hampshire -- New Hampshire, you have 30 votes. How do you cast them?
RAYMOND BUCKLEY, STATE PARTY CHMN.: Thank you, Madam Secretary, the great blue state of New Hampshire, home of Governor John Lynch, Congressman Paul Hobbs, New Hampshire, a leader in elected women, celebrate the election of Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter, House Speaker, Terie Norelli, Senate President, Sylvia Larsen and the State Senate Female Majority and in November, the election of Jeanne Shaheen to the U.S. Senate. In New Hampshire, we were proud to make history once again as our primary was the first contest ever won by a woman running for presidency of the United States, our friend -- Hillary Rodham Clinton. In New Hampshire, where unity is more than just a town, we answered Senator Clinton's call to unite and we fulfill Dr. King's dream by traveling here from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire to proudly cast all 30 votes for the next president of the United States, Barack Obama!
(APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, New Hampshire. Thank you, Chairman Buckley -- our first in the nation primary. New Hampshire casts 30 votes for Senator Obama.
New Jersey -- New Jersey, the state where I grew up. New Jersey, you have 127 votes. How do you cast them?
GOV. JON CORZINE (D), NEW JERSEY: Madam Secretary, is the proud governor of a great, great state, Garden State, New Jersey, home of the Super Bowl champion Giants, the Boss and Bon Jovi, where the sun rises on our shores and sets over our green mountains in the west, where our people are industrious, entrepreneurial and every once in a while have an attitude. We, we the Democrats in one of the most trail- blazing, progressive states in the nation, providing health care, paid family leave and making sure every child has a quality education, we proudly -- we proudly and unanimously -- unanimously I repeat -- vote for the next president of the United States, a person who will lead us to the change this country needs, who will inspire America with hope and progress, a leader who will inspire the world with hope and promise, we unanimously cast our 127 votes for Barack Obama!
Thank you, New Jersey. Thank you, Governor. New Jersey proudly casts all 127 of its votes for Senator Barack Obama.
New Mexico -- New Mexico, you have 38 votes. How do you cast them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary -- oh, I'm so sorry -- Madam Secretary, our friend, our guest, often in the beautiful land of enchantment, Madam Secretary, the wonderful land of enchantment is here today with our beautiful familia de Nueva Mexico
(SPEAKING SPANISH)
(SPEAKING SPANISH) -- 22 Native American tribes, the land where we know the Hispanic vote will make the difference to make sure that New Mexico will be a blue state in '08, the land of enchantment of red and green chilly, proudly casts its vote. But yet, we are given the distinct honor and privilege, Madam Secretary, of yielding the floor, a day that all New Mexicans will remember, when we yield to the land of Lincoln, the state that loves and knows our Governor Bill Richardson, the home of Diane Dominguez, the home of United States Senator Jeff Bingaman and Congressman Udall -- and the senator in waiting, Tom Udall, and the youngest statewide Hispanic elected official, Hector Valdez, Attorney General Garry King and State Auditor, Hector Balderas, and State Treasurer, James B. Lewis. All of us, together as a family, yield to the beautiful state of Illinois, the home of the next president of the United States, Barack Obama!
GERMOND: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. New Mexico yields to Illinois.
Illinois, you have 185 votes. How do you cast them?
RICHARD DALEY (D), MAYOR, CHICAGO: Madam Secretary, from the great state of Illinois, the land of Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and the home of our senior Senator Dick Durbin and from the sparkling city -- the great city of Chicago, which is a candidate city of the 2016 Summer Olympics, and in 2008, world series between the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs, hometown of the next president of the United States, Barack Obama -- we yield to the great state of New York --
(APPLAUSE)
-- home of Hillary Clinton.
GERMOND: Thank you, Illinois. Thank you, Mayor Daley.
(APPLAUSE)
GERMOND: Thank you, Illinois. Thank you, Mayor Daley.
New York -- New York, you have 282 votes. How do you cast them?
SHELDON SILVER (D), NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER: On behalf of the Empire State, the great state of New York, led by its great new governor, Governor David Paterson, the home of its senior senator, Senator Joe Schumer, the home of the Ways and Means chair of the House, Congressman Charlie Rangel, and a great congressional delegation. The home of our great state Democratic chair, June O'Neill. Our great attorney general, Andrew Cuomo. Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
(CHEERS)
I am proud to call upon the great senator from New York to make the following presentation. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Madam Secretary, on behalf of the great state of New York, with appreciation for the spirit and dedication of all who are gathered here, with eyes firmly fixed on the future, in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let's declare together in one voice right here, right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
CLINTON: Madam Secretary, Madam Secretary, I move that the convention suspend the procedural rules and suspend the further conduct of the roll call vote. All votes cast by the delegates will be counted, and that I move Senator Barack Obama of Illinois be selected by this convention by acclamation as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States!
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
CROWD (chanting): Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!
PELOSI: Thank you, Senator Clinton.
Senator Clinton has moved in the spirit of unity to suspend the rules of the convention and to nominate Barack Obama by acclamation as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party.
Is there a second?
(CHEERS)
PELOSI: All in favor of the notion to suspend the rules and nominate by acclamation Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, please say "aye."
CROWD: Aye!
PELOSI: All those opposed, please say "no."
Two-thirds of the delegates having voted in the affirmative, the motion is adopted.
(MUSIC)
PELOSI: (inaudible) Senator Obama has been invited to make an acceptance speech. I had been asked to inform you that Senator Obama accepts the nomination and will deliver his acceptance speech tomorrow night at the fourth session of the convention, to be held at Invesco Field. Thank you.
