Like a lot of busy Americans, Barack has to put a little bit of planning into where and when he will be able to watch highlights from this year’s Democratic convention as he campaigns across the country. Very often he has to rely on the hospitality of others to catch a few minutes of the convention on TV.

Monday, Barack was welcomed into the Girardeau household where he watched Michelle deliver her convention speech. The Kansas City family joined Barack in the living room on couches and ottomans as Michelle took the stage.

Barack was proud: "I thought she was good. She was fantastic." When his daughters Sasha and Malia walked out he added "and it’s the peas!"

On Tuesday, Barack dropped by a convention watch party in Billings, Montana, surprising the 15 guests of Eran Thompson, who is one of Obama’s local field organizers. Barack led the move to switch the channel to CSPAN in order to watch Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s speech. The group then watched Hillary Clinton’s speech with rapt attention.

"That was excellent, that was a strong speech. She made the case for why we’re going to be unified in November and why we’re going to win this election. I thought she was outstanding," Barack said afterward.

Enjoy this video from Monday and slides from Tuesday:

Arun Chaudhary
August 26, 2008
Billings, Montana

Original post by Obama Road Blog

 National Field Director Jon Carson just sent out this email…

Amanda —

This has been a convention of extraordinary moments. Ted Kennedy passing the torch to a new generation. Michelle Obama moving the crowd to tears. And tonight, Joe Biden will give the biggest speech of his life.

Millions of Americans are watching and counting on us to win this election and deliver real change.

They’re not just counting on Barack and Joe — they are counting on you. Hillary couldn’t have said it better: "None of us can afford to sit on the sidelines."

This is our one shot, so let’s roll up our sleeves — or risk another four or eight years of the same disastrous Bush-McCain policies.

Sign up right now for events happening this week in your community.

Tomorrow, Barack will accept the Democratic nomination, and supporters all across the country are getting together to be a part of this historic moment.

Then, this weekend, we’ll kick off the biggest voter registration and mobilization drive in the history of politics.

Attend a Convention Watch Party this Thursday evening, and find a Weekend of Action event near you:

http://my.barackobama.com/WOAevents

If this convention has shown us anything, it’s how much energy and enthusiasm is out there — and how much passion for change.

Voters in all 50 states are realizing what’s at stake. And they’re hearing Barack’s message of change in every corner of the country.

Let’s seize this incredible opportunity and work together to get out the vote like never before.

Attend a Convention Watch Party and sign up for a Weekend of Action event near you.

Supporters like you have brought us this far, but there’s still a lot work to be done.

At this crucial time in our campaign, it’s never been more important to get involved.

Thanks,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

Original post by Amanda Scott

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

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

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

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

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

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

Original post by Bradley Portnoy

As he prepares to make his first major speech as Barack Obama’s running mate tonight, Joe Biden has been mingling with family and friends, and meeting a lot of new people along the way.
 
With his wife Jill, his son, and his grandchildren in tow, Joe Biden knows that his life is about to change. And even though he has served in the Senate longer than most other senators, one would think that a life in politics might alter the make of a man. But Joe Biden never has had a problem connecting with the American people, and his time here in Denver at the Democratic National Convention has been no different.  
 
You can watch him here, in both sound and pictures, as he meets folks on the way to a barbecue shack in downtown Denver, as he enters the DNC to watch the convention with his family, or do a walk-through of his speech, in preparation for his big night tonight:

Original post by Peter Rubi

‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’ That’s what our parents used to say to us. My brother and I were taught that you have an obligation to give back." - Michelle Obama

The Colorado sunlight burned off the early morning chill, drying the dew on the grass. Peppy rock tunes blared from the speakers. At the sight of the motorcade pulling up behind the small outdoor stage, those in attendance hushed and rushed toward the stage.  Children leaned over the railing to catch the first glimpse of the special guests taking part in the Democratic National Convention’s Delegate Service Day.

Out of the vehicles emerged Michelle Obama, her daughters Malia and Sasha, Michelle’s mother Marian, Michelle’s big brother Craig, Jill Biden, Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter, and a cadre of Obama and Biden friends and family members. All were sporting bright blue tee shirts emblazoned with the words, "Supporting Our Troops" on the front.

The crowd erupted in applause at their arrival.

Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the non-partisan Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, welcomed the group. Paul acknowledged special guest Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran from Illinois who lost her legs at war when the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. (Duckworth will speak at tonight’s session of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.)

Rieckhoff called on Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter, who introduced Michelle.

Michelle offered brief remarks about the day’s emphasis on service and shared with the crowd the plans to assemble "care packages" for American troops at the conclusion of the program.

"These projects are our way of saying thank you to the people of Denver, our gracious hosts this week. But our work today is also out of support and great admiration for the troops who are serving our country abroad and keeping us safe at home.  My family is thrilled to be here today to send a few comforts of home to our soldiers overseas. We hope the more than one thousand delegates taking part in the many service projects across Denver today will carry that commitment to service back to help their communities long after our Convention is over."

Hear a personal greeting from Michelle on-site at today’s service event:

Learn about the Obama-Biden National Service Plan here.

Original post by Laurin Manning

This Thursday night, Barack Obama will take to the podium at Invesco Field in Denver to accept the Democratic nomination for president. Supporters in all 50 states are coming together to watch Barack and share the excitement of this historic event.

Nearly 6,400 watch parties will be going on across American, from Pennsylvania to Mississippi to the west coast of Oregon.  

Wherever you live, there’s a watch party going on near you.

Even the traditional “red states” are excited about Barack’s speech. There are 22 events planned in Utah, 45 in Arizona, 24 in South Carolina, and 39 in rural Montana. 

Supporters will celebrate Barack’s nomination together and share their memories of the past 19 months since Barack announced his candidacy.

During the watch parties, supporters will also be busy planning the next few months of grassroots efforts. They’re organizing voter registration drives, canvassing events, and phonebanking parties. 

Even if you haven’t been to a campaign event before, the watch parties are a great way to get involved and meet other supporters in your area. So if you can’t make it to Denver for the convention, find a watch party near you  – or create your own! – and be a part of the excitement of the 2008 convention. 

Original post by Molly Claflin

During his keynote speech last night, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner said…

We need a president who understands the world today, the future we seek and change we need. We need Barack Obama as president.

…In America, everyone should get a fair shot. And Barack is running to restore that fair shot for every American. Because far too many Americans are seeing that fair shot as a long shot.

…If we choose the right path [in November], we can turn every one of our challenges into an opportunity.

Watch the video of Mark’s speech below…

Original post by Amanda Scott

Barack is in Billings, Montana today to hold a discussion with veterans and military families on securing America’s future.

Watch the event live below…

Original post by Amanda Scott

 Just two days from now, on August 28th, Barack will take the stage in Denver to accept the Democratic nomination in front of 75,000 people. However, there are millions more supporters across the country who won’t be able to make it to Denver.

That’s why our supporters have organized thousands of convention watching parties across the country to share their excitement with Obama supporters in their communities.

Jessie in Somerville, MA was excited to tell us about the watch party she has planned.

“I’m a member of the Somerville for Obama organizing committee,” she says, “which works to coordinate volunteers for phone banks, canvassing in New Hampshire, voter registration drives, and other Obama-related events. We are an official group of 25 dedicated volunteers, and we’re always trying to think of new ways to engage local volunteers and voters.”

Because the Somerville group of Obama supporters is very active, we have decided to host a huge concert and convention party at Precinct Bar in Union Square in Somerville, Massachusetts. They were the venue for our campaign kick-off party as well, which drew over 200 attendees. This time we’re expecting between 80 and 120 people from all over Boston. We’re going to try for a record turnout.

Jessie says she’s hosting the event because “I want to spread the Obama love, and I didn’t win a trip to Denver, so a convention watching party is the next best thing!”

Jessie is happy to host.

I personally wanted to take the lead on managing the event details because I believe that grassroots organizing efforts are at the heart of this campaign, and I want to use my talent for bringing people together, my insanely anal attention to detail, and my overall can’t-touch-this excitement about Obama to re-energize, rejuvenate, and re-activate people’s passion for the election.

Jessie’s excited to get more people involved in the campaign, and recruit new volunteers in her community.

I hope this party will bring everyone back to what’s at the core of this campaign: We are the change.

If, like Jessie, you can’t make it to Denver to see Barack speak on Thursday, you can still be a part of the excitement by finding a Convention Watch Party near you.

Original post by Molly Claflin

Original post by Christopher Hass