Barack Obama formally accepts Presidential nomination

29/08/2008 23:17:42

Barack Obama has formally accepted the Democratic Party's White House nomination in a wide-ranging and emotional speech at the party's convention in Denver, Colorado.

Senator Obama used his speech to pledge to fix the economy and restore America's moral leadership if he took office.

"With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States," he told around 75,000 cheering supporters packed into the city's football stadium.

Senator Obama is the first African-American politician to be selected to run for president by a mainstream political party, and his speech was delivered on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech.

He pledged a rethink of America's foreign policy and said he would end the country's dependence on foreign oil.

"America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this," he said.

"I will restore our moral standing so that America is once again the last best hope for those who are called to the cause of peace."

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