Opinion: Barack Obama nominated, makes history

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

DENVER -- It’s official. At 4:48 p.m. local time (6:48 EDT and 3:48 PDT), Barack Obama became the first biracial American nominated for president of the United States by one of the nation’s major parties.

After a roll call that proceeded through the states until New York was reached, Hillary Clinton -- Obama’s rival in the party’s prolonged, combative primary season -- moved for his nomination by acclamation. She did so, she said, ‘in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory’ in November.

In terms of precedent, Obama joins:

* Al Smith, who became the first Catholic on a national ticket when the Democrats nominated him for president in 1928.

* Geraldine Ferraro, who became the first woman on a national ticket when nominated for vice president by the Democrats in 1984.

* Joe Lieberman, who became the first Jew on a national ticket when nominated for vice president by the Democrats in 2000.

-- Don Frederick

Join those receiving every Ticket item -- plus special offline tweets from The Ticket’s writers -- sent directly to your cellphone. To register for free instant Twitter updates from The Ticket, go here to ‘follow’ us.