New Jersey cast final votes in DNC roll call

by: Scott Weingart

Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 09:15:52 AM EDT

The stage for yesterday evening's outstanding piece of political theater was set that morning, when New Jersey's delegation voted to unanimously support Barack Obama for president of the United States. Yesterday morning, New Jersey's pledged and unpledged Clinton delegates offered the strongest gesture of unity possible.

After Wednesday's delegation breakfast, I asked Congressman Rush Holt about the unanimous vote. He answered:

It's nationally important that New Jersey, one of the strongest bastions of support for Hillary Clinton...would go so enthusiastically—not just unanimously, but enthusiastically unanimously for Barack Obama.

Here is Corzine, casting New Jersey's vote:

And a transcript of the Governor's remarks:

Madame secretary, as the proud governor of a great great state, the Garden State, New Jersey, home of the Super Bowl Champion Giants, the Boss anbd Bon Jovi, where the sun rises on our shores and sets over our green mountains in the west, where our people are industrious, entrepreneurial, and every once in a while have an attitude, we, we, the democrats in one of the most trailblazing, progressive states in the nation, providing healthcare, paid family leave, and making sure every child has a quality education, we proudly, we prouldy and unanimously, unanimously I repeat, vote for the next president of the united states, a person who will lead us to the change this country needs, who will inspire america with hope and promise, a leader who will inspire america with hope and promise, we unanimously cast our 127 votes for Barack Obama.