Clinton: ‘Obama must be President’

Hillary Clinton has urged her supporters to rally behind Barack Obama, after a rousing speech at the Democratic national convention in Denver. During her 25-minute speech Clinton, who was given a three-minute standing ovation as she took the stage, called for unity among the Democrats. "Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our President."

The Democrats could not afford to lose another eight years to the Republicans, she declared. "Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines."

Clinton's speech was notable for taking a well-aimed punch at the Republicans. "John McCain says the economy is fundamentally sound. John McCain doesn't think that 47m people without health insurance is a crisis. John McCain wants to privatise social security. And in 2008, he still thinks it is okay when women don't earn equal pay for equal work," she said.

It was no coincidence the Republicans are holding their convention in Minneapolis-St Paul next week, she suggested. "It makes sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities. Because these days it's awfully hard to tell them apart."

She also paid tribute to those who had supported her in her campaign to become the first woman in the White House. "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."