All the United States was his stage yesterday as Barack Obama re-scripted 200 years of history by adopting the mantle of the first African American to win the presidential nomination of a major political party, an achievement that elicited wonder and admiration from cafes in Texas to the White House in Washington.

Even as Mr Obama turned his attention to healing deep rifts in his party, President George Bush Ð through a spokesperson, rather than a telephone call Ð congratulated the 46-year-old Illinois senator, saying he had come "a long way in becoming his party's nominee. And his historic achievement reflects the fact that our country has come a long way, too."

There were even warmer sentiments from Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State. "The United States of America is an extraordinary country. It is a country that has overcome many, many, now years, decades, actually a couple of centuries of trying to make good on its principles. And I think what we are seeing is an extraordinary expression of the fact that 'We the people' is beginning to mean all of us," she said....WaPo