Obama looks to party unity ahead of election against McCain

Obama made history Tuesday by becoming the first black nominee of a major U.S. political party, a victory on a promise of hope and change for Americans weary of economic turmoil and years of war.

His battle against McCain, a veteran senator who effectively clinched the Republican nomination months ago, looks to be a clash of generations as well as a debate on Iraq. Obama, 46, opposes the war; McCain, 71, is a former Vietnam prisoner of war and staunch supporter of the current U.S. military mission.

The Democratic presumptive nominee, addressing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Wednesday, criticized McCain for supporting a "plan for staying, not a plan for victory" in Iraq.

"Keeping all of our troops tied down indefinitely in Iraq is not the way to weaken Iran, it is precisely what strengthened it," Obama, who made history Tuesday by becoming the first black to win the nomination of a major U.S. political party, told the pro-Israel lobby group, known as AIPAC.

In securing the delegates needed to win, Obama completed one of the most remarkable U.S. political campaigns in memory. A first-term senator, unknown nationally four years ago, he toppled one of America's most powerful political families.

Clinton, seeking to become the first female president, had long been seen as the inevitable nominee, and their battle fractured the Democrats' ranks while McCain has had since March to lay the groundwork for the Republicans' White House run.

Obama's victory was a milestone for a nation where, just decades ago, racial discrimination was so severe blacks in some states could not eat at the same lunch counters as whites, and many had to fight just for the right to vote.

His accomplishment drew the attention of Condoleezza Rice, a Republican and the first black secretary of state in history, who said the Democrat's victory was an "extraordinary expression" that the first words of the U.S. Constitution, "'We, the people' is beginning to mean all of us."

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino also extended President George W. Bush's congratulations, though Bush did not call Obama.

Obama's comments to AIPAC came as two fellow senators -- Tom Harkin of Iowa and Ken Salazar of Colorado -- threw their support behind him after remaining neutral through the 17-month nomination battle with Clinton.

Walter Mondale, a Clinton supporter who served as vice president under Jimmy Carter, also announced he was backing Obama.

In terms of electoral math, their endorsements hardly mattered as Obama had more than enough to prevail at the party convention in Denver in August.

But Mondale, Harkin, Salazar and others poised to endorse Obama later in the day were also sending a message to Clinton that her race is over, whether she will admit it or not. Four top Democratic officials sent a similar message earlier in the day, issuing a joint statement urging uncommitted superdelegates to make their choice clear by Friday so that the party can unify ahead of the general election.

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