Obama speech in St. Paul ends primary season, kicks off presidential
race
By BOB VON STERNBERG and MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune
June 4, 2008
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/19485059.html?location_refer...
Barack Obama declared victory Tuesday night at a raucous rally at the
Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul.
"Tonight, after fifty-four hard-fought contests, our primary season
has finally come to an end," he told thousands of supporters who had
jammed the arena to witness an historic moment as Obama became the
first black candidate in the nation's history to become a major party
presidential nominee. The crowd of 17,000 exploded in an ear-splitting
roar.
"Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic
nominee for president of the United States," he said, setting off
another roar even louder and longer.
An additional 15,000 supporters watched the speech on a big screen
outside the arena, according to fire officials.
