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.

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.

“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.”

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.

McCain is congratulating Obama in a campaign ad Thursday.

(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.

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.

McCain plans a direct response to Obama Thursday.

(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.

DENVER (CNN) - In his first remarks since accepting the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nomination, Joe Biden told the Pennsylvania delegation Thursday morning “we cannot win without winning Pennsylvania.”

“Ya brung me up,” the Pennsylvania-born Biden also told the ballroom in a hotel on the outskirts of Denver.

“Scranton never leaves you, and Pennsylvania never leaves you,” said the Delaware senator, who is sometimes called Pennsylvania’s third senator. “I probably campaigned in Pennsylvania I can’t tell you how many times, literally hundreds of times, hundreds of times, because part of my heart has always been there.”

He stumbled trying to say “the Obama-Biden campaign” but once he got it out, quipped, “I’m getting used to this.”

Read more: Take a look at the electoral map

Biden called the ticket a natural fit, saying the campaign is about trusting the people who are “a hell of a lot smarter you think they are.” After reading a quote from his speech announcing his 1972 run for the U.S. Senate, Biden joked that Obama could have delivered it “were he alive in 1972.”

“No, he was alive, he was alive,” Biden laughed. “By the way, if I hear one more time he was 11 years old when I went to the Senate, I’m going to smack somebody.”

Biden, who regularly tells crowds he doesn’t use hyperbole, lived up to his reputation for occasionally adding color to his accounts.

“There was somewhere between six and 10 busloads of people from Scranton who just spontaneously got on a bus and came down to Wilmington, Delaware to the train station,” said Biden of his 1972 speech. “There were hundreds of thousands of people.”

Barack Obama and Biden head to Pennsylvania on Friday, where Biden says they paln to devote an “inordinate amount of resources.”

“You’re going to have all the resources this campaign has available to us. That’s the good news. And the bad news is you’re going to have a whole hell of a lot of me, because I’m coming home.”

iReporter Clayton Anderson says he liked ex-President Clinton's comparison between 2008 and his run in 1992.

(CNN) - Former President Clinton dismissed critics who say Sen. Barack Obama is too inexperienced for the presidency in his speech to the Democratic National Convention.

On Wednesday night, Clinton rallied support for Obama by drawing comparisons between his candidacy in 1992, reminding the audience that "Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be commander in chief."

His message seemed to resonate with many iReport contributors.

Clinton "showed that being young is not necessarily being inexperienced or not being ready to lead," said iReporter Jordan Sarver of Athens, Georgia, who also commented on Sen. Ted Kennedy's appearance Monday.

Clayton Anderson of Savannah, Georgia, said the parallel that Clinton drew between Obama and himself was "most important aspect" of the speech. "I think we all know how productive and positive the Clinton administration was for Americans," Anderson said.

Read the full story

Sen. Clinton asked Mervyn Jones, Jr. to sit next to former President Clinton during her headlining speech at the Democratic National Convention.

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) - It was classic Clinton.

It was Sen. Hillary Clinton's big night but before her speech even began, former President Bill Clinton reached out in his box and firmly embraced a young African-American man.

Clinton gripped the young man tightly; to millions watching on television, it was clear he could feel Mervyn Jones Jr.'s pain.

Watch: Clintons honor Tubbs Jones

As he sat down for his wife's headlining address, Bill Clinton's silent embrace of the 25-year-old son of recently deceased Ohio Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones resonated loudly.

Rep. Tubbs Jones, of course, was a solid and loyal Clinton supporter, standing by the Clintons even when many other black leaders were shifting their support to Barack Obama.

Then, in her speech, Sen. Clinton herself took a moment to mention Tubbs Jones and her son.

"Steadfast in her beliefs, a fighter of uncommon grace, she was an inspiration to me and to us all," Clinton said. "Our heart goes out to Stephanie's son, Mervyn Jr."

The public moment of recognition was the result of years of friendship.

Related: Watch: Congresswoman on Hillary Clinton

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

(CNN)– Senator Barack Obama is preparing to share a page in history with Dr. Martin Luther King on Wednesday, the 45th anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech. In the latest installment of CNN=Politics Daily, CNN's Jessica Yellin recaps the most memorable moments from Bill Clinton and Joe Biden's crowd-pleasing speeches.

Plus: CNN's Dana Bash gives you a preview of what to expect from Obama as he officially accepts the Democratic nomination for president at Invesco Field at Mile High, while CNN's Jason Carroll takes a look at what the Illinois senator's nomination means for the African-American community.

Finally: John McCain has picked his vice president, and is expected to make the big reveal Friday morning in Ohio. CNN's Ed Henry looks at who is on the short list.

Remember to download our special morning edition of CNN=Politics Daily during the Democratic and Republican conventions - wake up to all the convention news and analysis from the Best Political Team on Television.

Click here to subscribe to CNN=Politics Daily.

Sen. Barack Obama takes a walkthrough of Invesco Field at Mile High on Wednesday night.

(CNN) – Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28,1963, Martin Luther King Jr. shared his vision for a new America:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal,' " he said before a crowd of hundreds of thousands.

Watch: Stadium readies for Obama

King's dream for a land where his children would "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" would be repeated, meditated upon and memorized for generations to come.

On the 45th anniversary of King's rousing call, Sen. Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination at INVESCO Field in Denver, Colorado. In what represents at least a partial actualization of King's dream, Obama will officially become the first African-American to lead a major party's ticket for president of the United States.

Full story

Bill Clinton gave a strong endorsement of Barack Obama Wednesday night.

DENVER, Colorado (CNN) – For one night, it was like the Democratic Party had entered a parallel dimension, where John Kerry was an electrifying speaker and Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were members of a mutual admiration society.

Watch: Fact-checking Bill Clinton

The former president came through for Obama the way his wife had on Tuesday. But oddly, Clinton was upstaged by a near-dynamic John Kerry, joining Al Gore in the club of unsuccessful Democratic presidential candidates who seem to hit their stride after their defeat.

Watch: Bill Clinton wows the crowd at the Democratic National Convention

After two nights of consecutive Clinton speeches, Joe Biden had his work cut out for him to claim the spotlight.

Many observers predicted the blunt Delaware senator would fill the attack dog role on the Democratic ticket, but his initial address as the vice presidential nominee was more bark than bite. He steered clear of the harshest language, and never uttered the name of Dick Cheney, the man he is running to replace.

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After making a surprise appearance at the convention Wednesday, Sen. Obama toured the site of his acceptance speech with aides David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Sen. Clinton looks on with her daughter as former President Clinton speaks at the convention Wednesday.

It often seems presumptuous to sit in a television studio and offer a judgment about how a political convention is working out in America when it is you, the voters, who are the real deciders. So please forgive, but here are some thoughts.

Overall, I thought that the Democratic Party finally brought it together tonight. Much of the credit for their success goes to the Clintons - through the speech last night by Hillary and then tonight by Bill, they brought glue to the party and an energy to the convention that was crucial. Recognizing how sad they must be inside, I thought they were a class act this week. Together, they brought a healing to the party that allowed people to pull together.

Add to that the way that both Barack Obama and Joe Biden conducted themselves tonight, and they had the makings of a grand third night. Visiting the hall, Obama didn't talk so much about himself but rather, was gracious and thankful to the Clintons (as well, of course, as Michelle). Coming after Bill Clinton's rallying cry, it was impossible for Biden to top him - and he didn't - but he gave a very serviceable speech and his son Beau was absolutely moving.

The Republicans will have a full opportunity next week to make their case, and no doubt, they will have some grand moments, too. For now, this is the Democrats' turn, and they have used it well. Overall, my two cents is that tonight they may have started to reverse the momentum of this campaign. John McCain has been coming on strong, catching up with Obama in the polls - partly because a lot of Democrats haven't been sure in their allegiances. Now, Democrats may start coming home - and for the Obama-Biden team, that provides a big opportunity. Let's see if Obama can build on this momentum tomorrow night.

Now what do you, the read deciders, think? Would welcome your thoughts.

Biden waves from the stage with his family Wednesday night.

(CNN) – One of the reasons a strategist never sits in a stadium and get caught up in the crowds - and never sits watching a debate in person - is because the vast majority of American voters watch these political events on television

And while Joe Biden's speech was received well in the convention hall, I am not sure how it will play with most voters at home. It was largely a pedestrian speech, and I don't think was a great first impression for a lot of people.

The Democrats will come out with a unified convention and go into battle. But the idea that the vice presidential candidate is someone who can lend credibility to his nominee to be a commander in chief is wrong. At the end of the day, the country has to make a decision. Who is the leader, who has the experience to be a leader and who can take us to the next decade?

That's what voters get to decide in about ten weeks.

The crowd cheers as Bill Clinton speaks Wednesday night.

The Democratic Convention has finally come together. It has hit all the big themes, including the Iraq war and national security, just as those issues re-emerge after months of domestic focus.

One of the other things that Barack Obama has had to do is define himself and his family. Watching Michelle Obama throughout this week, I think she has come to be - through this convention, through her own speech, the video of her life - as a real figure and a likable person. I think anybody that couldn't see her in the White House before this convention could certainly see her there now.

You've got to keep thinking about John Kerry and John Edwards four years ago. You know, they left the convention also on a very high note - and of course went on to lose the election.

But this party has come together — three weeks ago, not many would have said you were going to see the Democratic Party on the eve of Barack Obama's speech where they are tonight.

Now it's up to Obama to go into that great stadium with the generals and the panoply of all these folks and pull it all together and be formidable.

That's the real question. Can he be formidable enough?

Obama, is getting the convention he wants, Carl Bernstein says.

Barack Obama is getting the convention he wants, under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. The convention he is building reflects him and his priorities: it’s thoughtful, not just red-meat; and he’s in surprising control of the message, given the forces he’s dealing with. Indeed, the convention-building and the message may be far more sophisticated and effective than we instant commentators were prepared to discern. Witness the opening night grousing on-air about the convention’s supposed thematic absence, and aversion to instant butchery of the opposition.

Read more from the AC 360 blog.

Sen. Joe Biden gets a surprise appearance from Sen. Barack Obama Wednesday night.

I thought Joe Biden gave the weakest of the major speeches of this convention.

Watch: 'This is our time,' says Biden

He stumbled through many of the best lines, he didn't have a clear theme, and he didn't deliver any memorable phrases or ideas.

It was a beautiful picture at the end - with the young Barack Obama and the older Biden together with their families. Beau Biden, the senator's son, gave a better introduction than his father gave a speech.

Rep. James Clyburn spoke Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention.

(CNN)– He gave a well received speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night, but Rep. James Clyburn told CNN he had difficulty talking about the historic meaning behind the official
nomination of Sen. Barack Obama.

"It's a very emotional thing for me," Clyburn told CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley. "It's hard to explain what it really means. It means though that this party has taken a step that will help this nation get behind it, one of those things that have impeded our progress for a long
long time.”

Clyburn, the House Majority Whip and the most powerful African-American in Congress said Obama's nomination has brought back memories of his parents and his childhood, growing up during the civil rights movement of the 1950's and 60's.

"I really flashback to sitting in a jail cell," The South Carolina native admitted, adding he wasn't sure the struggles he endured then to bring about equality for African-Americans would ever have a "beneficial impact."

"It came to me this afternoon that we did in fact succeed it in starting a journey that still is not completed...[but] tomorrow night will get us much closer to a more perfect union,” he also said.

Clyburn remained neutral during the Democratic primary and officially endorsed the Illinois senator on June 3.

Sen. Obama made a surprise appearance at the convention after Sen. Biden's speech. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

Watch: Obama makes surprise visit

Sen. Obama to join Sen. Obama on stage after his acceptance speech.

Barack Obama is set to appear with his running mate Joe Biden following the Delaware senator’s vice presidential acceptance speech tonight, according to his campaign.

Watch: McCain 'not change,' more of the same says Biden

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden acknowledges the crowd before speaking at the DNC. (Photo credit: AP)
The Delaware senator has accepted the nomination, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells the convention in Denver.

Watch: Biden: I accept your nomination

Watch: Biden nominated as Obama's VP

Rollins: Bill Clinton is a nightmare to us Republicans.

Obviously, Bill Clinton is a nightmare to us Republicans and he just gave a great speech at the Democratic National Convention.

He laid out certainly the fall campaign, but I have to say that just because he said he was a good commander-in-chief does not make it so.

Watch: Clinton: Obama is 'American Dream'

Clinton also tried to compare criticisms of Obama's inexperience to what he faced in 1992. But at the time people were criticizing him when he was running, he had been a governor for 12 years. He had a very strong resume and was a nationally known Democrat.

I think the bottom line is he gave great lines, but that does not give Obama the Commander-in-chief credibility.

He has to prove it himself

As John Kerry fulminates over supposed attacks by Republicans on Democrats' patriotism, I might remind readers that it was Bill Clinton who seemed to call into Obama's love of country when he said on the campaign trail in Charlotte, North Carolina:

“I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country. And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics.”

Just saying.

Bill Clinton acknowledges the crowd before speaking at the DNC. (Photo credit: AP)
Sure, Clinton was eloquent, but he also made an important political point that may serve as a guide to his fellow Democrats.

Watch: Bill Clinton's entire speech

John McCain is running as a maverick, someone who has defied the orthodoxy of this party. But look at this passage from Clinton's speech:

"As a Senator, he has shown his independence on several issues. But on the two great questions of this election, how to rebuild the American Dream and how to restore America's leadership in the world, he still embraces the extreme philosophy which has defined his party for more than 25 years, a philosophy we never had a real chance to see in action until 2001."

Watch: Bill Clinton gets tough on McCain

In other words, it's one thing to be a maverick on issues like campaign finance and immigration, but on the issues that matter to most people, McCain is a classic Bush Republican. I don't know if voters will accept this argument, but Clinton, as usual, made a clever and possible case.

John Kerry speaks at the DNC.

DENVER (CNN) - John Kerry gave the speech Democrats wish he had given at his own convention four years ago. It was very tough: "how dare they..." suggest who is a patriot and who isn't. The surprise guest: Barack Obama's uncle, a World War II hero.

Bill Clinton got the crowd cheering during his convention speech.

Bill Clinton delivered the best, most effective and most important speech since he left the White House. Not only did he offer up a rousing embrace of the Obama-Biden team, not only did he validate the qualifications and readiness of the Democratic ticket, but he was the first one at this convention to paint a bright, clear picture of the crucial choices voters face this November.

Next week, we will hear a strong - and perhaps equally compelling - rebuttal from the Republicans. Everyone will want to weigh the arguments carefully.

Watch: Bill Clinton says Obama is ready to lead

But for the moment, the Democrats have the public stage, and Bill Clinton has just become a crucial force on behalf of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Watch: Bill Clinton: I support Obama

Finally, let me recognize that I am only a single person speaking. The people who count the most are really you, the voters. Would welcome your thoughts.

Bill Clinton back in 1992.

DENVER (CNN) - They played Bill Clinton's signature 1992 song as he walked into the convention center in 2008. The refrain: "Don't Stop Thinkin' About Tomorrow."

Watch: Bill Clinton says Obama's right for the job

The other part of that refrain sticks out tonight: "Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone."

Bill Clinton addressed the Democratic National Convention Wednesday.

Bill Clinton, not known for his self control, is still not over it.

It's been reported that he still resents the suggestion from Obama supporters that he played the race card during the rough and tumble Democratic primary. Perhaps that explains why, last week, he applauded John McCain's energy plan. Yesterday, Bill Clinton seemed to imply that voters could be forgiven for voting for a candidate they only agreed with fifty percent of the time, if they believed he was the candidate who could get things done. Could he have meant John McCain?

And now there are reports that Clinton, Bill that is, plans on skipping Obama's historic speech tomorrow at Invesco Field.

Bill Clinton gave a rousing speech tonight. That's not in question. It's what he's grumbling to his inner circle and coyly suggesting in unscripted remarks that's causing headaches - not to mention what can only be considered a Clinton-sized snub tomorrow night.

But is it all Clinton's fault? Barack Obama has not been exactly gracious about his predecessor's political accomplishments. Indeed, he told the Rena Gazette-Journal:

"I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not."

In one line, Obama managed to diminish Clinton's genuine political accomplishments and compare him to perhaps the most hated figure in the Democratic Party - behind George W. Bush.

Tonight, Clinton was gracious. As for the next two months? Well, Hillary had a hard time keeping him on a leash, most recently when she was running for the Democratic nomination. Between Joe Biden and Bill Clinton's penchants for off the cuff remarks and off the grid observations, the Obama campaign will be challenged to keep these two political heavy weights off of the front page. As a political junkie and a conservative, I hope they don't.