Gergen says Republicans are likely happy with the first night of the RNC.

From a Republican perspective, this was a strong first night. Speaker after speaker gave testimony to the courage, patriotism and independence of John McCain - messages that will resonate with a good many voters across the land. In addition, they drew some stark contrasts between Barack Obama and McCain, the kind of contrasts that are legitimate at a political convention - even when you disagree with them.

But there were also some dispiriting aspects to the evening. It revealed once again just how deeply divided this country is and how much free-floating anger and hatred there is toward those seen on the other side. There is a whole lot of demonization going on that suggests just how difficult it will be for the next president to unite the country. Repubicans probably think that Democrats were worse than they were - and vice versa; personally, I cringed a little less at some of the Democratic rhetoric (though there was some that went over the line).

I also found it interesting how much the Repubicans are eager to fire up their supporters by reigniting the "culture wars". Abortion has very much injected into the campaign and once again the Republicans are finding it easy to beat up on the press - the "big shots" in the media, as they call them. Will it work? You tell me.

Will look forward to your thoughts.

Watch Inside CNN All Access: DNC.

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) - As the RNC gaveled to order Monday afternoon, I finished producing an in-depth behind the scenes look at CNN's coverage of last week's democratic convention. It's part of a documentary-type podcast called "Inside CNN."

Watch: Behind the Scenes in Denver

Over the week I interviewed CNN political director, Sam Feist; CNN US President, Jon Klein; CNN anchors Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer. We go inside the Pepsi Center, CNN Grill, and Invesco Field.

CNN=Politics Daily is The Best Political Podcast from The Best Political Team.

(CNN)— Barack Obama made history Thursday by officially accepting the Democratic nomination for president. In the latest installment of CNN=Politics Daily, CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux give you a complete re-cap of the most memorable moments from Obama’s speech.

Former Vice President Al Gore also gave a rousing endorsement of Obama during the final night of the Democratic National Convention. CNN’s Alina Cho gives you the highlights from Gore’s speech.

Plus: CNN’s Mary Snow reports on what the GOP is doing to counteract the momentum coming from the Democratic Party following their convention.

Finally: Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama may have more in common than you know. CNN’s Deborah Feyerick has the details.

Click here to subscribe to CNN=Politics Daily.

Watch Obama says the country is better than what it has gotten the past four years.

I imagine that lots of you out there remain fierce critics of Barack Obama. Next week Republicans will legitimately debate and challenge many of his ideas, especially about his call for a more activist government. It will be fascinating now when John McCain and Obama meet in debates.

But for this moment and for this purpose, I saw Obama's speech tonight as a political masterpiece. As I had a chance to say on CNN a few moments ago, it was in many ways less a speech than a symphony. I also sensed that we saw tonight an Obama who is growing into a new, more mature leader - stronger, tougher, harder-hitting than he had appeared only a few weeks ago.

Watch: 'Our work won't be easy,' Obama says

Whether Obama will win this Novemember or not is still very unclear, but if he does, I imagine we may look back and say this was a major turning point.

Many of you, I know, will disagree. From all of you, I would welcome your thoughts - you, after all, are the voters who will actually decide the fate of the country.

Barack Obama greets the crowd at the Democratic National Convention.

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) – This summer, the McCain campaign tried to make the presidential race about a handful of words, like "celebrity" and "elite."

On Thursday, as he accepted the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Barack Obama added a few new words to the mix, all drawn from his personal experience: food stamps, scholarships and loans. It's the language of the working class, and it's turf John McCain can¹t compete on.

Watch: Part 1 of Obama's acceptance speech

"I don't know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine," Obama said.

Watch: Part 2 of Obama's acceptance speech

The problem for the McCain campaign is simple: The more successful it has been in spreading the meme of Obama as an unqualified celebrity candidate, the easier it has become for the Illinois senator to exceed expectations.

Maybe Obama¹s oratory hovered more than soared for most of the night - but it landed safely. The policy proposals are up for debate. But they can¹t be dismissed entirely.

Full story

Watch Obama says the country is better than what it has gotten the past four years.

I imagine that lots of you out there remain fierce critics of Barack Obama. Next week Republicans will legitimately debate and challenge many of his ideas, especially about his call for a more activist government. It will be fascinating now when John McCain and Obama meet in debates.

But for this moment and for this purpose, I saw Obama's speech tonight as a political masterpiece. As I had a chance to say on CNN a few moments ago, it was in many ways less a speech than a symphony. I also sensed that we saw tonight an Obama who is growing into a new, more mature leader - stronger, tougher, harder-hitting than he had appeared only a few weeks ago.

Watch: 'Our work won't be easy,' Obama says

Whether Obama will win this Novemember or not is still very unclear, but if he does, I imagine we may look back and say this was a major turning point.

Many of you, I know, will disagree. From all of you, I would welcome your thoughts - you, after all, are the voters who will actually decide the fate of the country.

Michelle Obama joined Barack on stage Thursday after his speech.

As a former speechwriter for former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, I heard some very important things that Barack Obama needed to include in his speech tonight.

He personalized, he humanized, he dramatized - that is so important for the listener and viewer to be able to connect with the person who is speaking.

Watch: Fireworks for the Democratic ticket

He also tried to turn the tables on John McCain by characterizing him as out of touch with most Americans' values - he's the one who is the elite, he's the person that is the greater risk in this election. And I thought that was an interesting way to try to take those attacks and turn them on his opponent.

He also attempted to move toward the middle ground - he talked about personal responsibility, that's typically something that conservatives and Republicans talk a lot about. And he also talked about "American exceptionalism" - I heard a lot of "we are the best hope for the world" - and again that's something that Republicans and conservatives talk a lot about.

Tonight, Barack Obama was saying the Democrats can own that too.

DENVER (CNN) - The celebration of Barack Obama’s presidential nomination brought people to their feet inside INVESCO Field.

Outside it just made their feet hurt.

As 75,000-plus spectators filed out of the stadium, they walked straight into mass confusion.

Those who arrived by shuttle bus were led through an obstacle course created by law enforcement, barriers and port-a-pottys, only to find that transportation coordinators did not know where those shuttle buses were. Many were directed to different lots. Others were told to walk to their destination.

Law enforcement officers added to the confusion by blocking off routes into and out of INVESCO Field, causing pedestrians to change routes often – turning them around and around.

Most people were frantically looking for their buses, talking on cell phones, asking police for help. There were handicapped people struggling to maneuver wheelchairs and walkers through grass and down stone paths.

Some police officers admitted that they were unprepared for the situation, saying that a month was not enough time to plan for such a large event.

Sen. Barack Obama formally accepted the Democratic Party's nomination Thursday night.

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) – Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is laying out his plan to lead the country into an era of change after what he called eight years of failed policies.

Watch: 'I accept,' says Obama

"I believe that as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming. Because I've seen it. Because I've lived it," Obama will say, according to a copy of his speech released Thursday evening.

"Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time," he will say.

Watch: 'Eight is enough'

At the beginning of his speech, he detailed what he called the failures of the Bush administration.

Watch: Obama: 'We are better'

"America, we are better than these last eight years," he said. "This moment, this election, is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive."

Full story

Update: McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds released this statement in response to Sen. Obama's acceptance speech: "Tonight, Americans witnessed a misleading speech that was fundamentally at odds with the meager record of Barack Obama. . . . The fact remains: Barack Obama is still not ready to be President."

Barney Smith got the Invesco crowd to its feet.

While TV cameras weren't watching, "ordinary guy" Barney Smith - part of the convention's "American Voices" segment - brought mile-high stadium to its feet.

He told his story of losing the Indiana factory job he'd held for 30 years and then said America needed a president who paid more attention to "Barney Smith" not "Smith Barney."

The crowd leapt to its feet chanting "Barney, Barney!"

Thousands of Democrats await Obama's acceptance speech.

DENVER (CNN) – The crowd at Invesco Field is now almost at capacity. Beachballs are being bounced overhead as the crowd does the wave.

Team Obama wanted a show and it has one.

It will be interesting to see how all of this plays outside of the stadium after tonight.

Watch: 'American needs Obama,' says Richardson

A familiar name just spoke - Susan Eisenhower, grand daughter of the very Republican late president Dwight (“I like Ike”) Eisenhower.

My colleague Jessica Yellin also just witnessed quite a moment. Civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., son of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, hugging each other and weeping on this historic night - the anniversary of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the night a biracial man accepts the nomination of the Democratic Party.

On top of everything else, a number of military types are currently on stage testifying to Obama's ability to be the next commander in chief.

Sen. Barack Obama waves to a sea of supporters Thursday.

An advance copy of the Obama speech has just been distributed. Because of the embargo, I won't go into content for the moment - but know that it is long and is much meatier than most acceptance addresses. Word count estimate: about 4500 words. Will look forward to hearing listener comments as we go.

Gore addressed the Democratic National Convention Thursday.

Before it gets lost in the excitement at Mile High Stadium, it is worth going back and reading Al Gore's speech tonight. While his delivery was way too rushed, the substance of his speech was something that the country needs to think and talk about a lot more: a possible catastrophe building up around us.

Watch Gore's entire speech

Gore has been trying to tell the U.S. and the world for some time now about the dangers of global warming, and to his credit, he has been honored with both an Academy Award and a Nobel Prize for his efforts. But neither of the candidates - nor have the parties - spent enough time talking about what is ahead and what we must do. Every expert I know thinks it will require sacrifice on our part - higher prices for using fossil fuels. When will the candidates level with us on what is required?

Some of you, I am sure, disagree with Al Gore and perhaps you don't even like him, but I must say that from my perspective, we need to pay attention to what he is saying.

Sources tell CNN's John King more than 90,000 people may be in Invesco Field to witness Sen. Obama's acceptance speech.

DENVER (CNN) – The McCain campaign has suggested Sen. Barack Obama is little more than a substance-less celebrity. The size of the crowd gathered to watch Obama formally accept his party’s nomination may do little to dispel that line of attack.

“They will have more than 85,000 people, perhaps more than 90,000 people, in this stadium by the time Barack Obama speaks,” Chief National Correspondent John King said Thursday evening. “There is a concern that the Obama campaign may have issued as many as 20,000 more tickets for this event” than the stadium can hold.

Local authorities are working with the Secret Service to get as many people into the stadium as possible. But there is a concern that several thousand people could be turned away.

In addition to the tens of thousands present in Invesco Field, millions of Americans across the country will be watching Obama on television and online.

Gore is still a hero to many, Toobin says.

Al Gore is a poignant figure for many Democrats. The 2000 election is by now a long time ago, and the memories of the Florida recount are fading for many. But not for everyone.

I just wrote a book about the Supreme Court called The Nine, and I was struck by how fresh the wounds of Bush v. Gore still are for many people.

Watch: Gore: 'We must seize this opportunity'

Justice Antonin Scalia, who voted for Bush, is fond of saying that the losers in that case should "just get over it." Many still haven't.

As we saw today, Al Gore is not a great orator. But he's a hero to many - and many still believe he was robbed in 2000.

The scene at Invesco Field in Denver.

As we await the acceptance address tonight, a few quick thoughts:

– This is indeed an historic occasion as an African American becomes the nominee of a major political party, and there is good reason for all Americans - not just Democrats - to celebrate the racial progress we have seen. But I also believe that Martin Luther King Jr. would be the first to tell us that we have still not reached the day when we look beyond the color of one's skin and instead look to the content of their character. To me, one of the biggest questions of this campaign is how many votes Obama may lose because he is black. (to be fair, he will also win some votes because he is black). From my perspective, it is impossible to measure right now. One top GOP strategist told me privately that he thinks it will cost Obama 4-6 points nationally. That sounds very high to me. But I am very curious what you think.

Watch: Gore says Obama is a chance for a new beginning

– So far, my sense is that this convention has been very helpful to Obama and the Democrats. The party finally seemed to come together last night, and much of the credit belongs to both Clintons. At a moment of personal pain, they put a smile on their faces and came out four-square for Obama. To be sure, there have been a lot of hours spent early each night without much of significance occurring (why not shorten these conventions to two nights?), but the closing hour to an hour and a half each night has been highly successful - a series of first class speeches by Michelle Obama and the two Clintons. Too early yet to measure the political impact, but Gallup tracking is reporting tonight that so far– half-way through last night - Obama has enjoyed a 6 point bounce. We'll see. Curious again about your view.

Watch: Lewis: 'We stil have a dream'

– In the meantime, we are also awaiting the Republicans. There are several signs tonight that John McCain may be choosing Tim Pawlenty as his running mate. We will all have a lot to say about that if it occurs - strikes me as a "safe" choice (popular 2nd term governor of Minnesota, social conservative, blue collar roots) but if the Republicans believe that a key requirement for going to the White House is whether you are "ready" to be commander in chief, the question arises: Pawlenty? What do you think. (Please know that other names are floating wildly and that there is some talk that John McCain may wish to postpone the convention if the storm grows in the Gulf).

Here comes Al Gore, so will leave things here. But again, would welcome your thoughts.

The stage is set for Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democrats' 2008 presidential nominee.

(CNN) - The Temple of Obama. Barackopolis. Egobama.

The descriptions of the transformation of Denver's Invesco Field peppered the Republican blogosphere hours before Barack Obama was set to address a dancing, jubilant crowd of 76,000 supporters on the Democratic National Convention's final night.

Designed by Emmy Award-winning entertainment behemoths, the set has spectacular columns, concert lighting, JumboTrons and rising royal blue circular stairs - an arena where warm-up acts such Will.i.am and Sheryl Crow looked right at home. Stevie Wonder led the crowd in a sing-a-long, "Bah-hah-rack-O-bama!"

Watch: GOP calling Obama's stage 'Barackopolis'

The conservative online magazine The American Thinker remarked that the stage made use of the "basic stagecraft of visual illusion."

"He has 300 foreign policy advisers - and for his convention speech, a football stadium equipped with a movie set that looks like a Greek temple," nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh wrote on his blog Thursday. "He claims to be the one that 'we have been waiting for,' and he can lower the seas and promise and deliver universal love simply by showing up."

"The polls are overestimating Obama, just as he is overestimating himself," Limbaugh said.

Read full story

Al Gore spoke to the crowd Thursday.

DENVER (CNN) – Al Gore walked in, and the feet-stomping, flag-waving crowd went crazy. Now an Oscar and Nobel Prize winner, he is garnering the kind of excitement he struggled to get during his presidential bid in 2000. A source says Gore has offered to campaign for Obama, and that he will.

Watch: Gore explains why he thinks the race is close

Watch Suzanne Malveaux's preview of Sen. Obama's historic speech.

DENVER (CNN) – Suzanne Malveaux previews Sen. Obama’s much anticipated acceptance speech set for Thursday night at Invesco Field.

Obama will deliver his speech 45 years to do the day that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his landmark “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. As the first African-American nominee of a major political party, Obama is viewed by many as the fulfillment of the vision set forth by King.

Watch: 'We still have a dream'

But, in addition to addressing the lofty, historic nature of his candidacy, Obama also plans to draw clear contrasts between himself and his rival Sen. John McCain.

Watch: Obama’s big moment

Sheryl Crow performed for the crowd Thursday.

DENVER, (CNN)–Will.i.am, John Legend and Sheryl Crow in that order. Down on the field, in a semicircle around the platform where Obama will speak, two rows of volunteers from each state. No state or elected officials. Grassroots folks.

Watch: "Yes We Can"

Watch: Crow plays for 'a change'

They will be no more than 30 feet away from Obama.

The sun has gone down behind the stadium now and it has gotten much cooler.

The stadium’s still not full but it’s getting there.