Thu, August 28, 2008 - 7:24 PM

Not sure if this is coming across at home on television, but this place feels more like a rock concert than a political convention. The energy level is extremely high. Maybe Obama really is the biggest celebrity in the world. Stevie Wonder is just taking the stage. He and his Boys2Men-esque backup band are dressed in sharp black suits. His bongo player, though, is wearing a "Barack the Vote" T-shirt.

In the crowd, Graig Meyer, 34, was dancing with a red clown nose and a red, white and blue hat as Stevie rocked out.

The Chapel Hill social worker spends his days mentoring kids. This week he's been in Denver having the time of his life rallying for Obama.

"It's like a political rock concert -- two of my favorite things," he said as he danced in the stadium aisles. "People take this too seriously," he said.

--Neil Simon and Amy Dominello


(Note from an ed watching from home: the energy is not translating to the home audience. There appear to be a ton of empty seats still. And the crowd shots -- keep in mind this is the official Democratic National Convention feed -- show a lot of people just sitting around, texting or looking sort of bored. Come on people! Stevie!)

Talk about dedication.

Bettye and Richard Showers Sr. made the trip from their home in Huntsville, Ala., to Denver for the Democratic National Convention, not once, but twice.

Turns out Richard Showers was up for reelection for the Huntsville City Council on Tuesday.

So the Showers flew out to Denver on Saturday, left on Monday to back to Huntsville for the election and then returned Wednesday afternoon.

Bettye Showers estimates she and her husband spent $1,200 on airfare. Why did they go through all the trouble?

“This day is just as important as his election,” Bettye Showers said.

And the election? Richard Showers was reelected.

-- Amy Dominello

To introduce a video recalling the historic "I have a dream" speech Martin Luther King Jr. gave 45 years ago today, Rep. John Lewis of Georgia delivered a powerful message of his own.

"I was there that day," Lewis told Democrats gathered at Invesco Field to hear Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination. "We gather here tonight … because we still have a dream."

In a theme we've heard from African-American elected officials on and off the convention floor this week, Lewis said the nomination of Barack Obama as the first African-American major party presidential nominee does not end that struggle. It marks a key point in the middle of a long journey toward a better democracy, he said, "the continuation of a struggle that began centuries ago in Lexington and Concord… and Selma," stretching from the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights movement and beyond.

In reminding Democrats of the civil rights era, he called King's quest for freedom and equality "too right, too necessary," and "too noble" to ever die.

"Some of us were beaten, arrested, taken to jail. Some of us were even killed trying to register to vote," he said. He called on all Democrats to continue fighting for the goals he and others sought in Civil Rights era marches.

"We must march to the ballot box and march like we've never marched before," he said. "We can do it. We must do it."

--Neil Simon

More photos from Invesco.

An MTV VJ on the floor. (His name escapes me right now.)



Jennifer Hudson singing the national anthem.


Melodie Anjua, a delegate from Hawaii, wearing a wreath symbolizing love and blessings.



-- Amy Dominello

DENVER—The coup of the day so far for the Democrats – Olympic gymnast and gold medalist Shawn Johnson

Conventions maybe about showcasing the party and getting the faithful energized, but these events also seek to attract the undecided, casual, independent voter who is not watching gavel to gavel. Bringing Johnson out, fresh back from the Beijing Games is a brilliant move to kick off this final day – and fitting as the crowd sits in a sports stadium.

THE HEAT AND THE HISTORY
It’s so hot, I fear people are going to pass out.

“I was really smart, because I brought my hat and left it because I didn’t need it,” said Helen Worthy of Wilmington, N.C.

The 71-year-old Obama delegate has been here in the since 1:30 p.m. MDT, but with here pink shirt draped over her head, there’s no way she’s giving up her seat at the front of the North Carolina delegation.

“It’s absolutely something you never think would happen in your lifetime,” she said. “It’s not only for me. It’s for my grandkids.”

Last night, upon seeing the convention nominate Obama, the first African-American presidential nominee, Worthy just cried, she said. “What must MLK be thinking if he could be here.”

Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a dream” speech 45 years ago today.

--Neil Simon

The Obama campaign just put out these excerpts from tonight's speech, which he's calling "The American Promise."

Excerpts of the Remarks of Senator Barack Obama

“The American Promise”

Democratic National Convention

August 28, 2008

Denver, Colorado



As prepared for delivery



“Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story – of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.



“It is that promise that has always set this country apart – that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well.



“It is why I stand here tonight. Because for two hundred and thirty two years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women – students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive.



“We meet at one of those defining moments – a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.



“Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can’t afford to drive, credit card bills you can’t afford to pay and tuition that is beyond your reach



“These challenges are not all of government’s making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed presidency of George W. Bush.



“America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.”



***



“This moment – this election – is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: “Eight is enough.”



“Now let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and respect. And next week, we’ll also hear about those occasions when he’s broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need.



“But the record’s clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush ninety percent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush was right more than ninety percent of the time? I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to take a ten percent chance on change.”



***

“You see, we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country.



“We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage; whether you can put away a little extra money at the end of each month so that you can someday watch your child receive her diploma. We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was President – when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000 like it has under George Bush.



“We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job – an economy that honors the dignity of work.



“The fundamentals we use to measure economic strength are whether we are living up to that fundamental promise that has made this country great – a promise that is the only reason I am standing here tonight.”



***



“That’s the promise we need to keep. That’s the change we need right now. So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am President.

.

“Change means a tax code that doesn’t reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.



“Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship our jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.



“I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.



“I will cut taxes – cut taxes – for 95% of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class.



“And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.



“Washington has been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them. In that time, he’s said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil as the day that Senator McCain took office.



“Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close.



“As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I’ll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I’ll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I’ll invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy – wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can’t ever be outsourced.”



***



“We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don’t tell me that Democrats won’t defend this country. Don’t tell me that Democrats won’t keep us safe. The Bush-McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy that generations of Americans -- Democrats and Republicans – have built, and we are to restore that legacy.



“As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm’s way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.



“I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts. But I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation; poverty and genocide; climate change and disease. And I will restore our moral standing so that America is once more the last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.”



--Sean Mussenden

So far, we've heard a lot of political speeches. Coming in the 7 to 8 p.m. EDT hour, live performances by will.i.am, accompanied by John Legend on piano, the Agape Choir and band. Also, Sheryl Crow.

Highlights between 8 and 9 p.m. EDT, Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, and iconic singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder. Al Gore is the last speaker that hour.

Between 9 and 10 EDT, Michael McDonald will perform.

-- Marsha Mercer

Daily Show correspondent John Oliver, the funniest Brit on television, has snagged a chair with the Texas delegation on the floor of Invesco Field.

I looked at his producer's notes and saw that, during Obama's speech, they're planning a gag that will compare Obama to Jesus.

It's a given that some people will cry during Obama's historic acceptance speech. Oliver's planning to say something about the tears. Then, in a joke designed to poke fun at Democrats who see Obama as more than just a savior from eight years of Republican rule, Oliver is going to say something like: "Why does he have to die for our sins."

--Neil Simon

The Drudge Report, citing unnamed sources, said McCain's vice presidential choice could come at any moment.

And the Associated Press is making a big deal out of the fact that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty abruptly canceled all of his public appearances moments ago, including a roundtable discussion with reporters. A pretty strong clue, I'd say. The last thing the McCain campaign wants is for news to leak while he's talking to reporters, putting him on the spot to respond to a flood of questions. Especially when you consider the carefully orchestrated roll out they have planned for tomorrow.

--Sean Mussenden

On a typical game day, Invesco Field opens three hours before kickoff. But then, the Secret Service isn't usually on hand to protect the Denver Broncos. Today, the stadium opened at 11 a.m., with Obama not slated to talk until about nine hours later.

The staff is working 18 hour shifts for this occasion.

-Neil Simon

Something tells me the crowd for Obama's acceptance speech is going to beat the one the Pope had in DC this year. The line snakes for more than a mile as 70,000 people are making their way here to Invesco Field.

Volunteers said they've been here since 7 a.m. MDT. Good thing they've got water along the route.

Michelle Obama is already in the house. She just walked by members of the press. One Bulgarian journalist chose to shake her hand rather than take a photo.

"It was a very hard shake," Ivelina Kiryakova said. "It was great."

Here she is waving. Bad picture, but it was the best we could do.



--Neil Simon

We just got to Invesco Field, the site of Barack Obama’s speech tonight.

Long lines and lots of people finding their way to their seats. Convention activities are supposed to begin shortly. Here’s a glimpse of what we saw on the way in.

Buttons for sale:



Shirts for sale:



The stadium:



The inside of Invesco:




-- Amy Dominello

DENVER--A pair of cigarette-smoking, beer-drinking self-proclaimed rednecks are here campaigning for Obama.

Watch this video to see how they and union leaders plan to cut through racial discrimination to help elect the first African-American president.



--Neil Simon

Two top advisors from the Obama campaign meet with reporters this morning to take a whole range of questions.

David Axelrod and David Plouffe both said the Democratic National Convention has gone well and tonight’s speech by Obama will show voters why he is the candidate that will put the country in the right direction.

Some highlights from the Q&A at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor:

On the Clintons: “They’ll both be campaigning,” Plouffe said.

Plouffe said the campaign wants Hillary Clinton to campaign for Obama as much as she’s willing to.

The enthusiasm gap: McCain needs “not just to meet George Bush’s turnout in most states but to exceed it,” Plouffe said.

McCain will have a tougher time getting additional voters to the polls because of an “enthusiasm gap,” he said.

Plouffe said Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana and Montana are places that aren’t traditional battleground states, but the campaign feels turnout will be much larger.

“They haven’t seen this kind of intensity and energy on the presidential level in some time,” he said.

On the tight polls: “We have no illusions that this was going to be anything but close,” Axelrod said. “The only difference is the battlefield. There are many more states in play.”

On whether McCain was attacked enough during the convention: “I think the goal is to strike a balance,” Axelrod said.

On McCain’s soon-to-be-named running mate: “I don’t think it’s particularly relevant who the running mate is if they’re willing to embrace the Bush economic policies,” Axelrod said.

On McCain’s age: “The issue isn’t the number of years …,” Axelrod said. “It’s the age of his ideas. … He has basically a backward looking philosophy.”

-- Amy Dominello

DENVER—Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri joined the North Carolina delegation breakfast this morning to give her blunt assessment of Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who is up for reelection this fall in the Tar Heel state.

Dole and McCaskill are on the Senate Armed Services Committee together, but “I just don’t see her that much,” McCaskill said.

“Don’t worry, we don’t either,” one North Carolina delegate shouted.

Dole, elected in 2002 as the state’s first female U.S. senator, is statistically tied in her race against challenger Kay Hagan, a state senator from Guilford, N.C. Both women are skipping their party’s conventions this summer to focus on the race back home.

After her remarks, McCaskill tried to help Hagan’s cause by saying Dole was skipping next week’s Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., because she is “trying to run away” from the Bush administration record.

“Kay is not part of the national Democratic Party. She is not a party insider,” McCaskill said, adding the challenger’s time was better spent back in North Carolina. “Kay is not here because she’s a big underdog,” she said.

--Neil Simon