Democrats choose Obama, who greets crowd after Biden speech

DENVER -- Democrats formally named Barack Obama their presidential candidate Wednesday, putting their hopes of ending eight years of Republican control of the White House in the hands of a man who would be the United States' first black president.

Former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton interrupted a state-by-state roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention to ask delegates to make Obama's selection unanimous "in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory." They agreed, with a roar.

Hours later, her husband added his backing. Former President Bill Clinton, whose past support for Obama has been tepid, told delegates and a national television audience that Obama "is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world."