Posts from — August 2008

In many ways, the first three nights of the Democratic National Convention were merely prelude to the final day, in which the proceedings moved to the outdoor stadium at Mile High for a truly unique, truly open convention. 

Once again, here is the full video of Barack’s acceptance speech, complete with a behind the scenes look at the final moments before he took the stage as well as shots of the incredible crowd of over 80,000 supporters:

Appearing onstage with Romney, Huckabee and McCain, VP pick is greeted with “Sarah, Sarah.”

Throughout the first three nights of the Democratic National Convention, audiences in Denver and those watching at home saw a wide range of speakers address many of the issues at stake at in this election, as well as offer their own personal perspectives on Barack Obama. Democrats and Republicans, a former president and ordinary Americans all took their turn at the podium in the Convention Hall. 

Republican Jim Leach spoke of the importance of transcending party lines in order to solve the pressing issues we now face, and John Kerry gave a powerful speech that challenged John McCain directly on many of those same issues.

One of the most emotional moments of the week was Ted Kennedy’s appearance, in which he delivered a fiery defense of his core values, including his belief in the fundamental right to health care:

On Tuesday night, the Convention keynote speech was delivered by Mark Warner. But in the eyes of many, the night belonged to Hillary Clinton:

(You can also watch on scene reactions from some of the women who watched Hillary’s speech).

On Wednesday night, former President Bill Clinton addressed a fired up, capacity crowd. 

Later in the evening, the final speaker took the podium — newly announced vice presidential nominee Joe Biden:

But one of the most memorable highlights came early, on the first night. On Monday, Michelle Obama told her own story and described Barack as she has come to know him, before urging Americans to "fight for the world as it should be":

(You can also see a behind the scene look at Michelle preparing for her speech earlier in the day, as well as video of Barack watching Michelle speak from the living room of Jim and Alicia Girardeau in Kansas City.)

The past seven days have been a whirlwind of activity, from the announcement of Joe Biden as the vice presidential nominee, to Barack’s acceptance speech in front of over 80,000 supporters at Mile High in Denver. We’ve had a record number of posts here on the HQ blog during these past few days, and over the course of the night tonight we’re going to provide a look back at some of the highlights of what was an historic week.  

For our staff on the ground, the week kicked off with an early walkthrough of the Pepsi Center, which would be home for the first three days of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

On Monday night John Legend performed his new song, "If You’re Out There," live for the first time on the Convention stage. Earlier in the day our video team was on hand for Legend’s rehearsal, and he took time to talk about the motivation and meaning behind the song, his take on Barack and what is at stake in this election:

Each morning and early afternoon, constituent groups met a few blocks away at the Denver Convention Center for caucus meetings. Many of the delegates also took time to help with local service projects throughout the city.

On Wednesday afternoon, veteran and former "Dinner with Barack" guest Michael Wilson formally entered Barack Obama’s name into nomination as the Democratic nominee.

Just a few hours later, one of the most dramatic moments of the week took place on the Convention floor, when Hillary Clinton called for a halt to the formal roll call of delegate votes and moved to nominate Barack Obama by acclamation:

On Thursday, the events moved to the stadium at Mile High, where a palpable sense of energy could be felt even as the final preparations were being made. Be early evening, the crowd had begun to gather in anticipation of a moment many grassroots supporters across the country had been working towards for 19 long months . . .

We’ll have more highlights, videos and photos throughout the night, as well as a look back at some of the major speeches from the Convention.

Today, Barack Obama and Joe Biden traveled to the western edge of Lake Erie in Ohio and held a discussion on the economy on the roof of the Lucas County Public Library in Toledo.

Attending the meeting was a small, diverse crowd of guests, all of whom were intent on hearing about new solutions.

The folks here in Toledo are hurting. Their jobs have been shipped overseas, and they want to know why.

Joe Biden had this to say:

Why is a company going stay in Toledo if the roads aren’t as good, access to the ports aren’t as good, the airports aren’t as good, or why in Delaware, why in New York or why anywhere? Why are they going to do that when you can invest in a country, where you can get your goods out — not just labor cheaper — but you get your goods out cheaper?

One of the ways to keep America’s corporations here, and Barack has been talking about it for three years, and I’ve been talking about it as well — the way is to invest in the infrastructure.

And, by the way, if we invest just twenty billion dollars a year or ten billion dollars a year in the United States of America, in infrastructure towards airports, roads, sewer systems, guess what? You are creating jobs where the average pay, even for laborers, is fifty thousand dollars a year. There’s two ways of dealing with it – you’ll cover both ends.

Barack discussed another idea on how an Obama-Biden administration would offer more jobs to Americans and improve the quality of their lives:

Start building highspeed rail. I mean there’s no reason why not — especially these days. You want to take a flight, you know, you gotta drive there, take off your shoes, you get delayed for an hour…. you don’t even get peanuts on the plane, you know? Then they lose your bags at the other end!

Why not build high speed light rail like every other advanced nation? That would save us on energy costs, save people time and put people back to work. That makes sense.

Later, Barack was asked what he and his administration would do to improve our cities. Here is what he had to say:

Peter Rubi
August 31th, 2008
Hamilton, Indiana

Politico has invited more than 100 notables to join an ongoing conversation that starts now, with their thoughts on Sarah Palin.

The Dems are scampering to create a response to Gustav that exceeds the GOP’s.

Today is the third of a four day Weekend of Action, in which grassroots volunteers across the country will be canvassing and registering voters in one of our largest coordinated field efforts yet.

In Colorado the Weekend of Action started early. Jenn Prosser was at Mile High on Thursday, where volunteers were phonebanking on-site in the hours before Barack’s speech . . .

In the hours leading up to Barack’s acceptance speech, people took the energy of Mile High and turned it into action. Throughout the stadium, people were registering to vote, signing up to volunteer and even making phone calls to make sure that people across Colorado tuned in to watch Barack’s speech.

Cheryl, a volunteer who traveled from Washington state to help out in Colorado, talked to us about the amount of excitement that is flooding Mile High.

She said:

We’re calling voters in Colorado and telling them to watch Senator Obama speak tonight… It’s packed, we have 100 phones here and I’m looking for phones all the time. They love it and they’re so enthusiastic about making calls for Barack.

No matter where you are, you take part in this Weekend of Action by finding an event near you.

Many GOPers think we’re detached from reality for suggesting the McCain’s VP pick was a desperate act. See also: Sunday shows

On Thursday Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for president in front of a crowd of over 80,000 people at Mile High, while a television audience of millions watched from house parties and homes across the country. But as Campaign Manager David Plouffe explained, "we have to do more."

Today is the third of a four day Weekend of Action, in which grassroots volunteers across the country will be canvassing and registering voters in one of our largest coordinated field efforts yet. Liz is on the ground in Maine, where the weekend got started early . . .

Volunteers in Camden showed their support at Windjammer Weekend: registering voters between the schooners, shops, and pine trees.

Happy supporters get ready for Windjammer Weekend

Visitors to Windjammer were pleased to find not just nautical fun, but the opportunity to register so they can head to the polls this November. 

A fashionable volunteer explains how to register

This small supporter has a few years to go

There are still plenty of opportunities for you to get involved during Maine’s Weekend of Action. Join your neighbors in Camden (or across the state) and help the Campaign for Change.

No matter where you are, you take part in this Weekend of Action by finding an event near you.

Four days of festivities were to open Monday, but now a party business session is all that is scheduled.

Many radio hosts are convinced that the press has a soft spot for Obama. See also: Sunday shows

McCain said he would change the RNC to a “call to the nation for action.”

Events happening at the RNC on Sept. 1, 2008.

Republicans may have an opportunity to prove their competence with the impending hurricane. See also:  ‘Day by day,’ and Bush to address nation

As Hurricane Gustav approaches and Gulf Coast residents evacuate their communities, our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are affected by this situation.

Mayor Ray Nagin has announced a mandatory evacuation for the City of New Orleans today, Sunday, August 31st. If you are in the New Orleans area, please contact the state emergency hotline at 1-866-288-2484 if you need more information or go to the State of Louisiana site for an updated list of evacuations by parish.

If you are a Mississippi resident, please click here for information.

State and local government officials are working hard to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of the region, and many of you have asked how you can help too.

Please find out how you can help by visiting the American Red Cross or Save The Children today.

If disaster strikes, your support will be vital to those organizations that work to help our communities get back to their feet.

Stay tuned for updates and more information on how you can help.

The GOP is more unpopular, more insecure and more uncertain than at any point since the triumph of 1994.

Barack and Joe are currently in Toledo, Ohio holding a discussion on the economy at the Toledo-Lucas Public Library. Watch the event live below…

No matter who was talking across the airwaves, it was all about Sarah Palin on Sunday.

In his first campaign ad since joining Barack on the Democratic presidential ticket, Senator Joe Biden talks about growing up in Scranton and the lessons he learned in his Green Ridge neighborhood.

Learn more about Joe Biden . . .

President Bush will likely address nation on Monday night in relation to Hurricane Gustav.

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Seeking to continue momentum from the Democratic convention in Denver last week, the party’s newly nominated ticket made its Ohio debut last night before a crowd estimated at up to 19,000 that jammed Dublin Coffman High School stadium.

… "The American people are anxious; the American people are worried because they recognize that over the last eight years, this country has gone tragically off course," Obama told the crowd, part of which had waited for hours under a hot sun.

Obama cautioned that although Democrats are riding high after his historic nomination for president, the fall campaign will be difficult. He urged his supporters to put in the work he said will be needed to defeat Republican John McCain.

… The rally in Dublin is part of a two-day campaign swing through Ohio for Obama and Biden, including a forum on the economy today in Toledo. The candidates also are making stops in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Michigan.

Biden, a six-term senator from Delaware, took the opportunity of his first appearance in the Buckeye State since becoming the vice-presidential pick to introduce himself.

"When your mother’s maiden name is Finnegan and you’re going to Dublin, and you’re appearing at the home of the Shamrocks, it kind of feels right," he said.

Biden noted he had run against Obama in the Democratic primaries — and even criticized the Illinois senator’s experience at the time — but said he saw why Obama connected with party voters.

"I watched a guy tap into, just by his very being and his ideas, tap into the age-old American belief that many have forgotten," Biden said. "And that is, you don’t have to accept a situation you cannot bear; you can change it."

From the Chicago Tribune:

Obama plans to continue the road trip through Rust Belt electoral battlegrounds throughout the Republican convention this week, stressing the competing presidential candidates’ divergent responses to the nation’s economic troubles.

Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, joined Obama and his wife, Michelle, for the opening days of the campaign swing, the first time the two couples have hit the road together since Obama announced his choice of running mate last weekend.

… Biden gave a full-throated call to arms as he introduced Obama from town to town. "Folks, I’ve never seen in all my time in Washington where so many people have been knocked down and our government has done so little to help them get back up," Biden said at an outdoor rally Saturday evening in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.

"I could walk from here to Cleveland and I wouldn’t run into a single person … who told me they felt the economy was strong, unless I ran into John McCain," he added.

McCain, Biden charged, "doesn’t see the economy the same way Barack and I do."

From the Washington Post:

Presidential candidates rarely linger anywhere. But Sen. Barack Obama spent nearly four hours Saturday inside a Cleveland church, attending a memorial service for Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D).

He had impressive company. Former president Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton; Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his wife, Jill; and Michelle Obama also paid their respects to the late Democratic congresswoman, who died Aug. 20. Tubbs Jones was one of Hillary Clinton’s most prominent African American supporters, an outspoken loyalist until the senator from New York dropped out of the race, when she switched to Obama.

Obama paid homage to the bond between Clinton and Tubbs Jones. "During this most recent contest, Stephanie and I started off on different sides. We would see each other, and she would say to me, ‘This is what it means to be a friend’ — and all I could say is, ‘I understand’ — and that is a testimony to her and the kind of person she was," Obama said.

… The senator from Illinois sat between Clinton and Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson, with Bill Clinton on his wife’s other side. The Democratic primary candidates drew big standing ovations, with both Clintons rising to cheer Obama. After Hillary Clinton spoke, Obama rose to pat her on the back, shake her hand and kiss her on the cheek.

Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.), who endorsed Clinton in the primaries, spoke of Tubbs Jones’s actions in her final days to heal the Clinton-Obama rift, including flying back early from a vacation to meet with Obama in Cleveland. "Two leaders came together, and they talked, and she felt good about the conversation," Meek said.

… As the crowd roared, Hillary Clinton and Obama both smiled and leaned toward each other, apparently exchanging a few friendly words.

“And of course as governor, she has had enormous responsibilities, none of which Senator Obama had. When she was in government, he was a community organizer. When she was taking tough positions against her own party, Senator Obama was voting present 130 times in the state legislature. On every tough issue, whatever it was, she was taking them on. That’s the kind of judgment that I’m confident that we need in Washington.” – John McCain

In picking Palin, McCain has ignited a wave of elation and emotion that has led some grassroots activists to weep with joy.

Pa. crowd boos when Palin praises Clinton, and at Obama-Biden rally crowd boos at the mention of Palin.