Obama for America

We decided this year would be a very special convention. Barack wanted to include ordinary Americans from across the nation in all parts of the convention – from drafting the Party Platform, to speaking to delegates, to organizing and shaping the convention.

One very special way we included ordinary Americans was “Backstage with Barack,” which gave every American who contributed to the campaign an opportunity to be selected to attend the convention. 

Those ten supporters will join Barack backstage tonight.  Among them will be Lenny Julius of Emerald Isle, NC.  Check out this video about his experiences in the military and why he supports Barack.

Joining Barack backstage tonight will be Eric Melder. Eric is a 59-year-old married father of three sons and a grandparent to seven grandchildren. A retired YMCA director, he has worked at Diakon Wilderness Center for the past 13 years counseling young men with drug, alcohol, and family problems.

"The boys call me 'E-rock' and I do all I can to make a difference in their lives," writes Eric.

A self-proclaimed "values voter" and evangelical Christian, Eric switched his allegiance from Mike Huckabee to Barack, convinced by Barack's ability to lead and build coalitions. Eric has brought Anthony, a former student at the Wilderness Center, who overcame immense hardships, including an absent father and a drug-addicted mother, to ultimately become Program Director of the Center.

"Barack needs to meet him," Eric says.

The Pennsylvania blog wrote about Eric's selection to meet Barack backstage; read more about it here. MSNBC's First Read also wrote a feature on Eric, which you can check out here.

Senator John Kerry took to the stage last night with a fiery speech laying out what is at stake in the election. Kerry’s hard-hitting speech left no doubt that he is a strong surrogate for Barack Obama and Joe Biden in this election.

Kerry told the audience:

Our mission is to restore America's influence and position in the world. We must use all the weapons in our arsenal, above all, our values.

… Today, the call for change is more powerful than ever, and with more seats in Congress, with more people with more passion engaged in our politics, and with a President Obama, we stand on the brink of the greatest opportunity of our generation to move this country forward.

If you missed the speech, you can check it out here:

From the New York Times:

Barack Hussein Obama, a freshman senator who defeated the first family of Democratic Party politics with a call for a fundamentally new course in politics, was nominated by his party on Wednesday to be the 44th president of the United States.

The unanimous vote made Mr. Obama the first African-American to become a major party nominee for president. It brought to an end an often-bitter two-year political struggle for the nomination with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who, standing on a packed convention floor electric with anticipation, moved to halt the roll call in progress so that the convention could nominate Mr. Obama by acclamation. That it did with a succession of loud roars, followed by a swirl of dancing, embracing, high-fiving and chants of “Yes, we can.”

In an effort to fully ease the lingering animosity from the primary season, former President Bill Clinton, in a speech that had been anxiously awaited by Mr. Obama’s aides given the uncomfortable relations between the two men, offered an enthusiastic and unstinting endorsement of Mr. Obama’s credentials to be president. Mr. Clinton’s message, like the messenger, was greeted rapturously in the hall.

“Last night Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she is going to do everything she can to elect Barack Obama,” Mr. Clinton said. “That makes two of us...”

“I say to you: Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world,” Mr. Clinton said. “Barack Obama is ready to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States.”

Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, Mr. Obama’s choice for vice president, accepted the nomination with a speech in which he spoke frequently, and earnestly, of his blue-collar background, in effect offering himself as a validator for Mr. Obama among some voters who have been reluctant to embrace the Democratic presidential nominee.

“The choice in this election is clear,” Mr. Biden said. “These times require more than a good soldier. They require a wise leader,” he said, a leader who can deliver “the change that everybody knows we need.”

His 21-minute address completed, Mr. Biden was joined on stage by his wife, Jill, who told the crowd they were about to be joined by an unscheduled guest. The crowd exploded as Mr. Obama walked around the corner.

“If I’m not mistaken, Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night,” he said, gazing up at where Mr. and Mrs. Clinton were watching the proceedings and leading the crowd in applause. “And President Clinton reminded us of what it’s like when you have a president who actually puts people first. Thank you.”

From the Washington Post:

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois completed an improbable and historic journey here Wednesday when he was nominated by acclamation as the Democratic candidate for president, becoming the first African American to lead a major political party into a general-election campaign.

Obama, who just eight years ago attended his first Democratic National Convention and who four years later shot to national prominence with an electrifying keynote address at the gathering in Boston, was given a final symbolic boost Wednesday by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who moved from the convention floor to suspend the roll call of the states and formalize her former rival's nomination by acclamation.

The gesture of conciliation brought to a conclusion the closest and hardest-fought nomination battle Democrats have waged in the modern era of presidential politics, pitting two historic candidacies in a contest that divided the party and left lingering bitter feelings among Clinton loyalists.

But after days of nervous speculation about how the long and often contentious competition would end here in Denver, the nomination-by-acclamation set off a joyous scene on the convention floor, as delegates danced to the strains of "Love Train" and then broke out in chants of "Yes, we can! Yes, we can!"

Hours later, the convention confirmed Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.) as the party's vice presidential nominee, and as he finished his acceptance speech, Obama made a surprise visit to the Pepsi Center to praise his running mate; his wife, Michelle; his erstwhile rival Clinton; and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, who had delivered a powerful speech on behalf of Obama earlier in the night.

"I think the convention's gone pretty well so far, don't you think?" Obama said. He cited his wife's speech on Monday, and then, referring to Hillary Clinton's speech on Tuesday, said, "If I'm not mistaken, Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night."

In his acceptance speech, Biden, the fiery chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cast himself as a champion of working-class families -- a key target group Obama has struggled to win over -- and laid out a sustained critique of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), who will accept the GOP nomination next week.

"I am here for everyone I grew up with in Scranton and Wilmington," he said. "I am here for the cops and firefighters, the teachers and assembly-line workers -- the folks whose lives are the very measure of whether the American dream endures."

Time and again, Biden charged, Obama's judgment on foreign policy issues has been superior to McCain's. On domestic issues, he said, McCain would continue the policies of President Bush rather than embrace changes he said the country desperately needs.

"Again and again, on the most important national security issues of our time, John McCain was wrong and Barack Obama was proven right," Biden argued. "Folks, remember when the world used to trust us? When they looked to us for leadership? With Barack Obama as our president, they'll look to us again, they'll trust us again, and we'll be able to lead again..."

Clinton drew a thunderous and sustained welcome from delegates, who cheered and waved American flags and chanted "Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill" as he sought to quiet them. "I am here first to support Barack Obama," he said, setting off another round of applause.

Clinton acknowledged that "in the end, my candidate didn't win" the nomination. But then, citing his wife's speech on Tuesday, he said: "Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she'll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama. That makes two of us." That set off a fresh round of applause that grew louder when he added: "Actually, that makes 18 million of us, because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November."

Challenging Republican criticism of the new nominee, he said: "Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. Barack Obama is ready to honor the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States."

Recalling that Republicans had accused him of not being ready when he ran in 1992, Clinton noted that the criticism had not worked then and "won't work in 2008, because Barack Obama is on the right side of history."

From USA Today:

...After an especially long primary season, after private wrangling and public battle, the Democratic Party became the first major party to select an African-American nominee for president in the nation's history.

With a roar of approval and a sparkle of flashing cameras, the convention's delegates nominated by acclamation Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who just four years ago electrified the Democratic convention with a speech where he first called for "a politics of hope." That message carried him in this election season to the top of his party's ticket.

"I never thought I'd live this long to see this," said Albert Lewis, a Hawaii delegate, where Obama grew up. "I'm very proud to be an American today."

Obama's nomination was the climax of a campaign that intertwined two groups that have spent much of the past 50 years struggling for their place at the table of American politics: blacks and women. And it came at the hands of the woman who had tried so hard to wrest it from him. When the roll call came to New York, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton joined her state's delegation on the floor and asked the convention to stop the roll call and nominate Obama.

"In the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory," Clinton said, "let's declare together in one voice, right here right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate."

George Bixon, a retired electrician and the only black delegate among 57 from Iowa, said tears streamed down his cheeks as Obama was nominated.

"It was a moment I thought would never happen in my lifetime," Bixon said. "He was nominated not as a black man but as a man who is qualified to do the job, and that made me proud."

He immediately called his wife back home who waited by the phone with their daughter and two grandchildren.

"We made history and I was part of it," he said he told them. "I'm proud of my country. I'm 63. I was refused buying a candy bar when I was 7 years old. I have been refused trying to purchase a home in an all-white neighborhood. This is nothing short of a miracle,"

"I can hardly describe how I feel, I am so excited," said Kathy Sykes, a delegate from Mississippi, whose delegation in 1964 challenged the party to seat black delegates.

"When I think about (civil rights activist) Medgar Evers, who lost his life registering people to vote — we have come a long way in this country, and we need a man like Barack Obama to lead us into the future."

Although it had been expected for months, the impact of Obama's nomination rippled out from the Denver convention hall.

Charles Evers, the brother of slain civil rights leader Evers and a Republican supporter of Barack Obama, was listening to the nomination coverage on television Wednesday night before hosting his radio show, Let's Talk, on WMPR-FM in Jackson, Miss.

The nomination is "one of the greatest things that ever happened in my 86 years," Evers said. "I know Medgar, Martin (Luther King) and others never dreamed they would see this day. Forty-five years ago we couldn't do this. Medgar was killed 45 years ago trying to get the right to be heard, period."

"This is a monumental moment in our nation's history," Martin Luther King III, the civil rights icon's oldest son, told the Associated Press on Wednesday. "And it becomes obviously an even greater moment in November if he's elected..."

Earlier in the day, Clinton had released her delegates, allowing them to vote for either candidate. She told them that she had voted for Obama but did not tell them how to vote.

Mark Smith, a delegate from Silsbee, Texas, changed his vote as a result. "When Barack became her candidate, he became mine. It was difficult because it was a bitter battle between two qualified, very talented candidates for presidency."

From the LA Times:

Barack Obama, riding a message of change, swept aside a Democratic dynasty and two centuries of history Wednesday to become the first African American to lead a major political party into the fall campaign for the White House.

The vote was by acclamation after Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York waded onto the convention floor amid a standing ovation and stopped a roll call of delegations. She urged Obama's unanimous selection as the party's presidential nominee "in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory." Delegates shouted their affirmation, and the longest, most contentious Democratic primary fight in more than a generation came to a congenial halt.

Hours later, former President Clinton did his part for party peace by wrapping Obama in his unqualified embrace. "Everything I learned in my eight years as president and in the work I have done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job," Clinton told cheering delegates, going far beyond the tepid endorsements he had offered in the past.

"Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she'll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama," Clinton said, a day after his wife pledged her unstinting support. "That makes two of us..."

Obama, 47, was at his Denver hotel with his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters when history was made. At evening's end, he sent a jolt of electricity through the crowded arena when he strode onstage and embraced running mate Joe Biden, who made his convention debut with a speech that mixed autobiography with policy and pugnacity.

Saluting his erstwhile rival, Obama said, "If I'm not mistaken, Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night." The crowd roared. "And just in case you're wondering . . . President Clinton reminded us of what it is when you've got a president who actually puts people first." The couple, along with their daughter, Chelsea, beamed from the VIP seats.

Obama's installation as the Democratic nominee capped an improbably swift rise that began four years ago at the party's national convention when Obama, then an Illinois state senator, delivered a soaring keynote address. Bookending his rise is Thursday night's acceptance speech at Invesco Field, a football stadium expected to fill with more than 75,000 people.

On Wednesday, Democrats continued their pounding of Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama's fall rival and a more resilient opponent than many in the party had anticipated.

Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island called McCain the "cheerleader in chief" for the Iraq war. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada called McCain a snake oil salesman and, in an apparent dig at his nearly 72 years, referred to him as "kindly old Doc McCain."

Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic nominee who once considered McCain as a possible running mate, said "the candidate who once promised a 'contest of ideas' now has nothing left but personal attacks. How insulting. How pathetic. How desperate."

Biden joined in. Citing Obama's early opposition to the war in Iraq, he said, "Again and again, on the most important national security issues of our time, John McCain was wrong, and Barack Obama was proven right."

"The choice in this election is clear," said Biden, who twice tried for the White House himself. "These times require more than a good soldier; they require a wise leader, a leader who can deliver change."

From the Denver Post:

Sen. Barack Obama, finally minted as his party's nominee after a historic primary season, joined running mate Joe Biden on stage Wednesday night in a symbolic and literal embrace of the man who, in a span of less than 10 weeks, must help him win the presidency.

Descending the private staircase to Pepsi Center's stage, Obama reached up again and again to shake the hands of eager staffers lining up along the rail just to catch one more glimpse of the surprise guest, who — by appearance alone — electrified a Democratic National Convention audience largely here for him.

"I want everyone to now understand why I'm so proud to have Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Beau Biden and Mama Biden with me on this journey," Obama said on stage, referring to the Delaware senator and a few of the 26 members of the Biden clan in the audience.

Minutes before, Biden finished a sweeping condemnation of John McCain and his record, having awakened on the third day of the convention as a long-serving senator and going to bed as a stiletto-wielding vice presidential nominee.

Biden used the most-watched half-hour of his political life to try to recast the presidential race as a comparison of records rather than — as it has been for much of the summer — a referendum on Obama. And he reintroduced himself to American voters as a tough, driven politician of humble roots, a fighter who remembered his father's advice: "Champ, when you get knocked down, get up, . . . get up."

"Failure at some point in everyone's life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable," Biden said.

Pointing to his 92-year-old mother, Catherine, in the audience, Biden said she "taught her children . . . that you are defined by your sense of honor and you are redeemed by your loyalty. She believes bravery lives in every heart and her expectation is that it will be summoned."

Biden's speech was in many ways the one that Democrats say they needed — biting, intelligent, emotional and occasionally pitch-perfect...

"(He) adroitly made the case for Barack Obama, but more importantly, he made the case against John McCain," Hart said.

Since I've never been called a man of few words, let me say this as simply as I can: Yes. Yes, I accept your nomination to run and serve with Barack Obama, the next President of the United States of America.

Joe Biden formally accepted the nomination for Vice President for the Democratic Party last night. Joe came onto the stage after a moving introduction by his son Beau. And with his family in the audience, including his mom who taught him that "you are defined by your sense of honor, and you are redeemed by your loyalty," he gave a rousing acceptance speech.

Joe told America about his childhood, about being picked on because of his stutter, about his father teaching him to always get up after you've been knocked down, and about the promise that if you work hard, you can succeed in the world. And he spoke about how that promise is slowing slipping away.

Fortunately, Joe told the audience, in Barack Obama, we have a candidate who can and will restore the American Dream for people across the country.

You know, you can learn a lot about a man campaigning with him, debating him, seeing how he reacts under pressure. You learn about the strength of his mind, but even more importantly, you learn about the quality of his heart. I watched how Barack touched people, how he inspired them, and I realized he had tapped into the oldest belief in America: We don't have to accept a situation we cannot bear. We have the power to change it. And change it―and change it is exactly what Barack Obama will do. That's what he'll do for this country.

Our greatest presidents―from Abraham Lincoln to Franklin Roosevelt to John Kennedy―they all challenged us to embrace change. Now, it's our responsibility to meet that challenge.

Millions of Americans have been knocked down. And this is the time as Americans, together, we get back up. Back up together. Our debt to our parents and grandparents too great, our obligation to our children is too sacred.

These are extraordinary times. This is an extraordinary election. The American people are ready. I'm ready. Barack is ready. This is his time. This is our time. This is America's time.

Watch Joe accept the vice presidential nomination below.

President Bill Clinton stormed the convention tonight with a powerful speech that left Democrats across America fired up and ready to elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

As one of the most beloved figures in American politics and a leader in the Democratic Party, President Clinton understands better than anyone the challenges of being Commander-in-Chief, and he resoundingly believes Barack Obama is “ready to lead.”

President Clinton led America to years of economic growth, peace, and prosperity, and said he knows Barack Obama will do the same:

Clearly, the job of the next president is to rebuild the American dream and restore America's standing in the world.
 
Barack Obama is ready to lead American and restore American leadership in the world. Barack Obama is ready to honor the oath to preserve, protect, defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States.

Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden just sent out this email...

Amanda --

A few hours ago, Barack Obama was officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for president of the United States.

And just a few moments ago, I accepted our party's nomination for vice president.

I made my case to everyone watching -- Barack Obama will secure America at home and restore our reputation abroad. And John McCain will only extend the failed policies of George Bush.

But this isn't my moment. It's all of ours.

And the fight ahead will be like nothing you've ever seen.

The stakes couldn't be higher, and Barack and I need your help right now.

Please make a donation now and support this campaign to bring the change we need:

https://donate.barackobama.com/tonight

Thank you for making this possible,

Joe

Earlier today at the Convention, veteran and former "Dinner with Barack" guest Michael Wilson puts Barack Obama's name into nomination as the Democratic nominee. Watch the video below...

In this election, Latinos are an important constituency group, and Barack Obama is firmly committed to the issues that are important to the Latino community. Take a moment and watch this video. It highlights the efforts of Latinos around the country in building our grassroots movement.

8:22 PM (local) -- The biggest moment of the night is about to happen: Senator Joe Biden will step up to the podium any minute to accept the Democratic Party's nomination to be Vice President of the United States. Joe is considered by many to be the most knowledgeable foreign policy expert in the U.S. Senate. A vocal critic of George Bush's mishandling of the war in Iraq, Joe's international stature will help Barack restore our standing and reputation in the world.

He'll talk about his journey from working class Scranton to the Senate - a journey that he took without ever forgetting his roots and the struggle that working families face. Senator Biden will also explain who Barack won't just repair the damage of the last eight years, but will stand with the middle class on every issue form jobs and wages to health care and retirement savings.

Joe's speech is one you're not going to want to miss.

7:45 PM (local) -- Bill Clinton just electrified the convention with his full-throated endorsement of Barack Obama and his plan to restore our standing in the world. Bill made it clear that Barack is "ready to lead," and "ready to be President." We've got a lot more coming up tonight, make sure you stay tuned to the blog and the convention.

6:58 PM (local) -- A few minutes from now, former President Bill Clinton will deliver an address to the assembled delegates and Americans everywhere. One of the most beloved figures in American politics, Bill Clinton presided over an incredibly prosperous decade in American history. He also knows full well the challenges and choices that face our nation's chief executive. President Clinton will talk about why Barack Obama is the right person to lead America.

As president, Bill Clinton helped grow the middle class, and lifted millions out of poverty. The years of his presidency were marked by peace and prosperity. President Clinton knows well what's at stake in this election, and he's going to make America's choice very clear.

He'll lay out the choice we face on foreign policy: Barack Obama's plan to responsibly end the war in Iraq and finish the fight in Afghanistan, or John McCain's plan to stay in Iraq indefinitely.

If you haven't been watching the convention yet, now is the time to tune in.

6:40 PM (local) -- Delegates in the convention hall will soon be hearing from Xiomara Rodriguez of Nevada. A 20-year veteran of the Coast Guard, she is also a grandmother and small business owner. Xiomara believes that Barack Obama will ensure every soldier and veteran in America is properly taken care of by the government, and that small business owners are protected in today's turbulent economy.

Before the Nevada caucus, Xiomara lent her voice to the campaign, asking over 4,000 Nevadans to sign pledge cards for Barack. A proud member of Bikers for Obama, Xio is also one of our bilingual volunteers. Read more about her story here.

6:09 PM (local) -- Michele Jones of Washington, D.C. is about to speak. A former enlisted member of the U.S. Army, she will also speak on behalf of military servants and their families. Prior to her retirement, Michele was the highest ranking enlisted woman in the Army. She is also the first woman to serve as Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve.

5:40 PM (local) -- Just a little bit ago, Senator Hillary Clinton graciously moved to suspend the roll call of the states and nominate Barack Obama for President of the United States by acclamation. All the votes of the delegates will still be counted, and Barack is now officially our party's nominee for president.

Now, Mark Docherty of Michigan is addressing the convention. A former member of the U.S. Army and a fireman in the Hazardous Materials Division, Mark understands the importance of having government support for critical services. He believes that from infrastructure funding to ending the war in Iraq, Barack Obama will be a president that all Americans can rely on.

Mark is also active in his local firefighters' union. He says of Barack, "He has a record of supporting the issues that are important to firefighters, It's especially important in Michigan, where (local government) revenues are dropping. That means we lose equipment, manpower and services." To read more about Mark, check out this story in the Detroit News.

3:37 PM (local) -- Just a moment ago, Michael Wilson of Florida stood before the assembled delegates to nominate Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's nominee for President of the United States of America. A lifelong Republican and Air Force medic, he is a veteran of the war in Iraq. Mike is inspired by Senator Obama's courage, sound judgement, and determination to restore our country's standing in the world. Michael believes that Barack Obama reflects "what America is, and what America needs."

In September of last year, Michael shared a meal with Barack in Nashua, New Hampshire. Click here to read about what they discussed.

Barack's nomination will be seconded by Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado, Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama, and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida.

3:24 PM (local) -- In just a moment, a speech nominating Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's nominee for President of the United States of America will be given.  It will be followed by three seconding speeches.

3:00 PM (local) -- The gavel is about to come down on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Tonight, Democrats will come together to nominate Barack Obama and Joe Biden to be the next President and Vice President of the United States.

Tonight's speakers will focus on Barack's plan to secure America's future through a new, tough foreign policy that isn't beholden to either party. Instead, Barack and Joe Biden offer a strong, smart, American foreign policy that makes us more secure at home and advances our interests in the world.

The speakers tonight come from all walks of life, but they all share Barack's vision of making America stronger and safer. We'll continue to highlight the voices of people who have empowered this campaign - regular Americans from across the country. They know that John McCain will only bring more of the same failed foreign policy that has left us isolated in the world and they're joining with Barack in calling for change.

The highlight of the evening will of course be Senator Joe Biden's acceptance of the Democratic Party's nomination for Vice President. Joe brings to the ticket both his incredible experience with foreign policy gained as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his down-to-earth working-class roots from his Irish Catholic upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He'll share his personal journey with the American people, and explain how Barack Obama has demonstrated the judgment we need in our Commander-in-Chief.

Also speaking this evening is former President Bill Clinton, who will discuss the success brought by his term in office and the stark choice that Americans now face: Barack Obama's new, stronger foreign policy, or four more years of George W. Bush in the guise of John McCain.

Tonight is, like the last two nights, a different kind of convention. America will hear from a former President to average citizens struggling just to get by. Watch a live stream of the proceedings on DemConvention.com, and keep checking back here at the HQ blog for important updates.

What a day!

We woke with the sun this morning to get to Curtis Park here in Denver for our service project with the DNC's Delegate Service Day. Watch a recap of the service project below:

Following the service project, we headed back downtown to drop by a meeting of the DNC's Hispanic Caucus. Michelle spoke before the group and echoed a key message from her speech Monday night: we must fight to make the world as it should be - not settle for the world as it is.

Michelle's message was warmly received. Toward the end of her remarks, the crowd jumped to their feet and erupted into several rounds of robust cheering: "Si se puede! Si se puede!"

This is a historic election -- and not just because Barack is at the top of the Democratic ticket. It's historic because of what's at stake for our shared future and our children's future.

This election is about the Latino families who are often the first ones hurt by an economic downturn and often the last ones helped by an economic upturn. It's about the Latino communities that have been devastated by the housing crisis. There are so many urgent problems that we must address in this election. That's why Barack is running for President. Because he believes that if we come together, and work together, we can build the world as it should be.

In the world as it should be, anyone willing to put in an honest day's work can make a good living and support their family--because we'll have an economy that works for all Americans--not just on Wall Street, but on Main Street, too.

After the Hispanic Caucus, we headed over to the Denver Convention Center and paid a visit to the DNC's Black Caucus. The crowd - which didn't know Michelle would be joining them - was elated to see her!

Michelle's message to the Black Caucus focused on themes of equality and justice:

I'm particularly glad to be here on a week that commemorates some of the great strides our nation has made toward equality and justice.

Eighty-eight years ago yesterday, the 19th Amendment became law, guaranteeing women the right to vote. And tomorrow will be the 45th anniversary of when Dr. King stood up in front of the Lincoln Memorial and lifted our sights and our hearts with his dream for America.

We all know that our country's journey of equality is not yet finished. But this week, we celebrate how far we've come--and how deep our shared capacity is to break through any barriers that stand in the way of our progress as a nation.

Tonight Michelle is at the Pepsi Center and is looking forward to hearing from the Vice Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party -- Joe Biden! He's scheduled to speak around 8:30 Mountain Time/10:30 Eastern Time. Stop back by the Obama campaign's blog for the latest coverage of Joe's speech.

Although Kathy calls herself an “unlikely” delegate candidate, her odds were actually pretty good. Her hometown of Joe Town, population 100 (mostly Amish), was allowed to send one person to the convention, and Kathy was elected!

This is not really a surprise considering the hard work she has put forth for the Democratic Party. While initially a Hillary Clinton and John Edwards supporter, Kathy is more concerned with uniting the Democratic Party for Barack.

Kathy is a super volunteer when it comes to in canvassing—she’s knocked on hundreds of doors in both her county and surrounding counties, debating with republicans in their living rooms, and calling fellow Iowa residents on behalf of the Democrats since January of 2008. In fact, due to her efforts, her local caucus went from 23 attendees at the last caucus to 200 this year.

Kathy’s family spent 14 hours squished in a car to make it all the way to Denver where Kathy can work to fight for the issues she cares about the most. Her family -- husband Scott, son Zachary, and daughter Cassie -- joined her at the delegate breakfast yesterday.

Kathy chose to home school them because of her strong dislike for the No Child Left Behind Act. She explains that while the Act looks good on paper, the idea is not working because there hasn’t been enough reallocation of funding. Additionally, schools are now teaching kids information that is only relevant to pass the state tests.

This lifelong Democrat has proven that one voice can go a long way. Kathy suffers from an arthritic condition called Fiber Malaga (which didn’t stop her from canvassing all over Iowa), and therefore speaks on behalf of those with disabilities. She serves on the Platform Committee and attended the meeting in Pittsburg where she introduced a platform for disability rights.

Kathy says that she is simply a mom, a part-time librarian, and “someone that cares about where the country is going.” Others say she’s a warrior for change.

Not long ago, in the midst of a formal roll call of the votes of all the delegates, Hillary Clinton made an announcement from her place on the floor among the New York delegation, moving to suspend the roll call and nominate Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for President of the United States:

On behalf of the great state of New York, with appreciation for the spirit and dedication of all who are gathered here, with eyes firmly fixed on the future, in the spirit of unity... let's declare all together, with one voice, right here and right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president.

Clinton's motion suspended the rules while still formally counting state votes, and after a unanimous round of "ayes" Nancy Pelosi closed the proceedings, declaring Barack Obama the official nominee of the Democratic Party.

Here is the video of this incredible, historic moment:

Nevadans will join their neighbors tomorrow to watch Barack Obama accept the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Supporters from all over the state have opened their homes to share this historic moment with fellow supporters in their communities.

Nancy is a proud grandmother hosting a house party in Henderson. Nancy worked as a precinct leader for Barack during the caucus and is currently a neighborhood team leader in charge of nine precincts. One of her favorite moments of the campaign was when she greeted an out-of-state volunteer who she agreed to host for the last month of the Nevada caucus.

"I expected a 27-year old from California," Nancy remembers. "I wound up hosting an 80-year-old semi-retired math professor from New Mexico. But it worked out, and we have remained close friends ever since."

Kristy, lead female singer of the Platters, will perform at Nancy's party.

Meanwhile, in North Las Vegas, Anne Zarate will be inviting her neighbors to watch Barack accept the nomination. An ardent supporter of Senator Clinton during the primary, Anne is a precinct captain for the general election who, like Senator Clinton, understands the stakes of this election. Anne's story was reported today in the Las Vegas Sun:

Zarate went through what she referred to as "a month of pouting."

...But, slowly, the anger subsided.

"I thought, 'What's it really about?' " she said. "It's about the issues and the country and who's going to take it forward. I thought they both presented a lot of opportunity for hope and moving forward. Obama is an extraordinary person, and economically, I couldn't reconcile where the Republicans are taking us."

Up in Reno, Marsy is hosting an event at Flowing Tide Pub & Grill. Marsy moved to Nevada four years ago. Originally a New York native, Marsy became passionate about fixing Nevada's broken health care system.

"In New York City, if you work for a company with two or more people, you get health care," Marsy explains. "I was shocked to find that if you work for a company with less than twenty people in Nevada, employers have no need to provide health insurance. And we kept getting turned down by insurance companies."

This injustice inspired Marsy to get involved as a volunteer with the Washoe County Democrats. An Edwards supporter during the caucus, she knows that Barack's plans for health care make him a great candidate for President.

The stories of hosts like Nancy, Anne, and Marsy demonstrate that no matter who you supported during the primary, we as Democrats must celebrate tomorrow night in unity with our friends and neighbors. With 150 convention watch parties throughout Nevada, there's certainly a convention watch party near you.

Join your neighbors in watching Barack accept the nomination.

No group better personifies the American ideal of service than our veterans. Senator Obama has a strong commitment to men and women in uniform, not only while they serve, but for the rest of their lives. Please watch this video from the convention. It features veterans sharing their own personal stories, and why they know Barack will be the best Commander-in-Chief for the welfare of those who have given our nation so much.

Student for Barack Obama has become the backbone of our grassroots movement. From Iowa to the convention, young people are coming out in record numbers to take part in the political process. They’re voting, volunteering, and most importantly, organizing in their communities to propel our movement for change.

The Students for Barack Obama video features students and young people taking about their role in the campaign. As one Georgetown Law Professor notes, “For the first time in their lives, [young people] have faith that their efforts will amount to something.”

The Obama campaign is powered by the enthusiasm of our young supporters. And based on what they’ve already done so far on this campaign, we can’t wait to see what this generation will do for America in the future.

Watch the Students for Barack Obama video here:

Women are going to make all the difference in this election. We can’t win this one without you!  In the Women for Obama video, Barack and Michelle ask women to volunteer, knock on doors, make phone calls, recruit their friends, and be a part of making change happen.

As Barack says in the video, “Women have always made the difference in every election. This year, your voice -- your vote -- will he the deciding factor in forging a new future for America.”

Watch the new Women for Obama video here: