Forget Hillary, Kucinich electrifies convention arena

Hillary Clinton has called on Democrats to unite behind Barack Obama as the party's presidential candidate, saying she was his "proud supporter".

Speaking at the party's nominating convention, Mrs Clinton said they could not afford to lose to the Republicans.

"Whether you voted for me or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose."

Mr Obama, who beat Mrs Clinton in the primary race, will formally accept the party's nomination on Thursday night.

He will stand against Republican John McCain in the presidential election on 4 November.

Mrs Clinton, who was given a standing ovation as she took the stage, thanked those who supported her through her campaign but said Mr Obama was now "my candidate".

The party could not afford "to see another Republican in the White House squander the promise of our country and the hopes of our people", she said.

"We are on the same team and none of us can sit on the sidelines," she said.

She described Mr McCain as "my colleague and my friend" but went on to attack his record and links with President George W Bush.

"We don't need four more years of the last eight years," she said.