Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008　

Backgrounder: Barack Obama

Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Senator Barack Obama (R) and Democratic vice presidential nominee U.S. Senator Joe Biden (L) acknowledge the audience onstage after Obama delivered his acceptance speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, Aug. 28, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    DENVER, The United States, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Illinois Senator Barack Obama accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night as the national convention was concluded in Denver, Colorado.

    "With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States," Obama told an audience of about 7,500 in the INVESCO stadium.

    His speech would conclude the four-day convention where Democratic officials, lawmakers and voters vowed and rallied support for their nominee.

U.S.Democratic presidential candidate Illiois Senator Barack Obama (R) celebrates with his wife during the Democratic national convention in Denver, Colorado, Aug. 28, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to," Obama said of his appearance at the 2004 Democratic National Convention as a keynote speaker.

    "It is why I stand here tonight. Because for two 230 years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women, students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurse and janitors found the courage to keep it alive," he told a 75,000-strong stadium.

    After 19 months of campaign after he announced to run for president, Obama won the party's presidential nomination on Wednesday, defeating a strong rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

    He was the first African American and minority American who won the presidential nominee of a major party in the U.S. history.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Illiois Senator Barack Obama (R) celebrates with Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden during the Democratic national convention in Denver, Colorado, Aug. 28, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Obama tried to dismiss criticism and skepticism that he is short of political experience, especially in foreign and national defense affairs, saying the Democratic Party, as the Roosevelt's party and Kennedy's Party, knows how to defend the country and keep people safe.

    He continued to attack President George W. Bush administration's foreign policies which have squandered the legacy that generations of Americans, Democrats and Republicans have built.

    "And we are to restore that legacy by ending the Iraq war responsibly, finishing the fight against al Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan, preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and building new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century," he said.

    The son of a Kenyan man and Kansas white woman is fighting for his way, along with his running mate, Joe Biden, to the White House against Republican presidential rival John McCain, who is expected to officially receive his nomination next week.

Gore urges Democrats to elect Obama as next U.S. president

    DENVER, the United States, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. former Vice President Al Gore on Thursday urged Democrats to seize the opportunity of change by electing Barack Obama as the next president.

    "It is not a guarantee; it is only an opportunity," Gore said when addressing the Democratic National Convention. "The question facing us is, simply put, will we seize this opportunity for change?"   Full story

Obama says he is proud of Biden as vice-presidential candidate

    DENVER, the United States, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Barack Obama, who surprised the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night in Denver, Colorado, after Joe Biden accepted the nomination as his vice presidential candidate.

    Obama, who was expected to show up at the convention to deliver his acceptance speech, came out from the sideline of the stage as Biden and his wife were leaving, and stirring high heat among thousands of Democrats at present. Full story