Watch critics are hitting Obama hard for this stage. CNN's Jessica Yellin reports.
DENVER (CNN) - Camp Obama is stinging over Republican barbs that the stage tonight, surrounded by thousands of spectators, is "the Temple of Obama."
His campaign manager came out to say GOP has it all wrong — that Obama wanted as many people as possible to be involved in this night because the election is about them. I think. Also gave some hard sell on how to get involved. Obama-ites are all over the place, passing out volunteer cards.
CNN's Joe Johns reports that there are long lines to enter Invesco Field. (AP Photo)
DENVER (CNN) - There actually appear to be a couple of lines leading in different directiions to Invesco field. The line we walked has to be a couple miles long up to the point we are now. Some police officers told us it is six miles long, but it snakes and undulates, making it quite difficult to judge.
It moves rapidly across the Auraria Blvd overpass then slows down once you get to the other side, just a continuous stream of people walking across a bridge on the boulevard near here. From the way they are dressed really a collection of every type of person, from working class people in blue collar uniforms to men in suits and women in high heels.
It’s warm out, and people who aren't in the greatest shape are naturally huffing and puffing a bit. I taked to one guy who said this is a little like getting to the Super Bowl — which seems about right. That’s another national special security event, like the convention.
Barack Obama's campaign has released portions of his acceptance speech.
–
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.
DENVER (CNN) - It’s 4:15 Mountain Time — about four hours until Barack Obama’s speech — and Mile High Stadium is just beginning to fill up, although there are still lots of empty seats in the second and third tiers. It’s an all-star rollout for the last session of the convention. Iowa gymnast Shawn Johnson - who won the Olympic gold — made an appearance, and Jennifer Hudson of "Dream Girls" sang the National Anthem.
(CNN) – The McCain campaign has finally released the television ad it called "historic" and "exciting" earlier Thursday.
Set to air in key campaign states to coincide with Barack Obama's formal acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination, the Arizona senator is featured looking directly into the camera to congratulate his presidential
Watch: McCain congratulates Obama in new ad
"Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America," McCain says in the ad. "Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed. So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations."
"How perfect that your nomination would come on this historic day," McCain also says in reference to the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech. "Tomorrow, we'll be back at it. But tonight Senator, job well done."
The upbeat ad is a marked departure from the slew of negative commercials the McCain campaign has released all week as it aims to divert media attention away from the Democratic National Convention.
Those ads have directly questioned Obama's readiness to be president, and most feature past criticisms from his chief primary opponent, Hillary Clinton - prompting the New York senator to directly distance her self from them earlier in the week. But Evan Tracey of TNS Media Intelligence/CMAG, CNN's consultant on television ad spending, reports the majority of those ads have yet to air in most battleground TV markets.
(CNN) - The GOP may be hosting their national convention in Minneapolis next week, but the city's mayor - a Democrat who has long supported Barack Obama - has a plan to combat the scores of Republicans who are flocking to his city:
Get 'em all drunk.
In a CNN iReport from Denver, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak jokes he's taking a page of George Washington's playbook when it comes to defeating the enemy.
Watch the mayor discuss his strategy
"I am going to be an incredible host and show them a great time, but there's a method in our madness. Remember when George Washington crossed the Delaware? There was a reason he was so successful is because the soldiers on the other side had been up all night drinking," Rybak says.
"So what we are going to do is invite the republicans in, be great - we've got the bars open until 4 a.m. - supply them with all things and then swoop in and win the election."
DENVER (CNN) – A senior adviser with John McCain's campaign called CNN Thursday to confirm that the VP selection process is finished and the presumptive Republican nominee has made up his mind.
CNN first reported the news Wednesday, after a knowledgeable Republican source said the matter was settled at a major meeting of McCain's advisers.
The presumptive Republican nominee will appear with his prospective running mate at a massive rally on Friday, the day after Barack Obama formally accepts the Democratic presidential nomination.
The lines were long early in the day to get into Invesco Field (Mathieu Young/CNN)
Denver (CNN) - Charlie Dominguez is spending his 47th birthday standing in line at Invesco Field hoping he will be able to count a ticket to Sen. Barack Obama's Thursday night acceptance speech among his birthday gifts.
"It's just to be close," Dominguez said. "Everybody's electrified. I want a chance for the glimpse, ya know?"
Dominguez, who hails from traditionally-red Kansas, said he was always a registered Republican until this year when he switched his registration to Democratic.
Watch live shots of Invesco Field on CNN.com/live!
A few ticket-holders and would-be attendees arrived at Invesco Field by 9 a.m. By noon, the line for entrance included roughly a thousand people, a reporter estimated.
The campaign expects roughly 75,000 people in attendance when Obama officially accepts the Democratic presidential nomination.
(CNN) – John McCain will directly address rival Barack Obama Thursday night, in an ad the Arizona senator's campaign is calling "exciting and unprecedented."
The ad, set to run in crucial battleground states, is the McCain campaign's latest in a series of attempts to pull media attention away from the Democratic National convention as Obama gets ready to accept his party's presidential nomination.
The McCain campaign would reveal little details about the commercial, but said it would air around the time Obama is slated to speak before an estimated 75,000 spectators at Invesco field.
It was pretty easy to see last night why Bill Clinton was elected president. When he’s on, there’s nobody better.
The former president came out swinging, declaring that Obama is “ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world.” He rather cleverly pointed out that when he was running in 1992, critics said the same things about him as they say about Obama. “Too young, too inexperienced.” Clinton said those criticisms didn’t work against him then, and they won’t work against Obama now because “he is on the right side of history”.
Like his wife, Clinton called on Hillary’s 18 million supporters to vote for Obama.
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From CNN Politics
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