Even though Democrats will name Barack Obama as their presidential nominee, Hillary Rodham Clinton's name will appear with his during the state-by-state roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

That is entirely appropriate. The New York senator made a historic run for the presidency. During the longest primary ever, she won many states, votes and delegates, finishing only 364 delegates behind Illinois Sen. Obama.

Both senators issued a joint statement Thursday saying that 35 million people took part in the primary and the two candidates sought to "honor and celebrate these voices and votes" by including both their names as nominees.

Said Mr. Obama: "I am convinced that honoring Sen. Clinton's historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion."

Mrs. Clinton added: "With every voice heard and the party strongly united, we will elect Sen. Obama president of the United States and put our nation on the path to peace and prosperity once again."

One point of the exercise is to encourage party unity.

Sen. Clinton is the first woman to have competed in all Democratic Party presidential primaries. The race was hard-fought and close. She deserves to be recognized, and Sen. Obama will benefit from allowing that to happen.

While the move is purely symbolic, it is nevertheless important.