‘Barack is ready’ says Bill Clinton

The US Democrat candidate for the White House, Barack Obama, has received a ringing public endorsement from former president Bill Clinton. Addressing 20,000 Democrat supporters, Mr Clinton said Obama was "ready to lead America" and was "the man for the job".

Mr Clinton said: "Everything I learned in my eight years as president and in the work I've done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job.

"Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world."

Yesterday, Hillary Clinton urged her supporters to rally behind Barack Obama, with 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."