Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois sealed theDemocratic presidential nomination Tuesday, a historic step towardhis once-improbable goal of becoming the nation's first blackpresident. A vanquished Hillary Rodham Clinton maneuvered for thevice presidential spot on his fall ticket.

Obama's victory set up a five-month campaign with RepublicanSen. John McCain of Arizona, a race between a 46-year-old opponentof the Iraq War and a 71-year-old former Vietnam prisoner of warand staunch supporter of the current U.S. military mission.

Hillary Rodham Clinton says she will consult with party leaders and supporters to determine her next steps now that Barack Obama has enough delegates to clinch the Democraticnomination.

In a speech in New York, Clinton told supporters that: "Thishas been a long campaign and I will be making no decisionstonight." As she spoke, supporters chanted "Denver, Denver,"thinking ahead to the site of the party's convention in August.

Earlier in the day, Clinton told congressional colleagues shewould be open to joining Obama's ticket as his vice presidentialnominee. But in her speech, the former first lady stopped short ofending or suspending her campaign. She did say she was committed toa united Democratic Party moving forward.

Click to watch Sen. Obama?s speech

Click to watch Sen. Clinton?s speech