WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Barack Obama captured the Democratic presidential nomination last night, capping a rapid rise from political obscurity to become the first black to lead a major US party into a race for the White House.

A surge of support from uncommitted delegates gave Obama the 2,118 votes he needed to clinch the nomination and defeat rival Hillary Clinton, a former first lady who entered the race as a heavy favourite.

Obama, 46, will be crowned the Democratic nominee at the convention in August and will face Republican John McCain in November's election to choose a successor to President George W. Bush.

"Tonight, we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another," Obama said in remarks prepared for a victory celebration in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the site of the Republican convention in September.

"Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States."

Obama's win over Clinton, projected by US networks, came in one of the closest and longest nomination fights in recent US political history. Five months of voting in 54 nominating contests concluded late last night when Obama won Montana and Clinton won South Dakota.

Clinton, who would have been the first woman nominee in US political history, won more than 1,900 delegates.

Turn to pages 13 and 14 for full story from last night.