2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Democratic National Convention Podium Schedule Monday, August 25, 2008 - ONE NATION

Democratic National Convention Podium Schedule
Monday, August 25, 2008 – ONE NATION

Time Shown as local – Denver, Colorado MST

3:00 PM - 7:00 PM (LOCAL)

Call to Order
The Honorable Howard Dean
Chair, Democratic National Committee
Former Governor of Vermont

Invocation
The Honorable Polly Baca – Greeley, Colorado
Former Colorado State Senator
President & CEO Latin American Research & Service Agency

Presentation of Colors
Navajo Code Talkers Association
Keith Little, Frank Willeto, Bill Toledo, Jimmy Begay

Pledge of Allegiance
Angela Morgan –Alexandria, Virginia
Served 9 years in the Marines and now runs a leadership development small business

National Anthem
Colorado Children's Chorale
Group over 30-years old – Tad Koriath (piano)
Local children (7-14) performing throughout US & the world (China, Asia, Europe, etc.)

Welcome
Reverend Leah D. Daughtry
Convention CEO & Chief of Staff, Democratic National Committee

Video - “Welcome to the West”

Introduction of and Report by the Credentials Committee
The Honorable Howard Dean
Chair, Democratic National Committee
Eliseo Roques-Arroyo
Co-Chair Credentials Committee
Former Executive Director, Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
James Roosevelt, Jr.
Co-Chair Credentials Committee
Pres. & CEO Tuffs Health Plan (HMO) and grandson of FDR
The Honorable Alexis Herman
Co Chair Credentials Committee
Former US Secretary of Labor

Introduction of and Report by the Rules Committee
The Honorable Howard Dean
Chair, Democratic National Committee
Sunita Leeds
Co-Chair Rules Committee
Chair of the DNC Indo-American Leadership Council
The Honorable Mary Rose Oakar
Co-Chair Rules Committee
Former Member of the US Congress, Ohio,
President of the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee
The Honorable David Walters
Co-Chair Rules Committee
Former Governor of Oklahoma
President of Walters Power International

Video - Changing the Course of Our Nation
Featuring Ashley Baia -Native of Pennsylvania and an Obama field organizer mentioned in Obama's Philadelphia speech.  Know as the "sandwich girl" who, at age 9, convinced her mother she liked mustard & relish sandwiches to save money while her mother was fighting cancer.  She is now twenty-three.

Introduction of Convention Co-Chairs
The Honorable Howard Dean
Chair, Democratic National Committee
The Honorable Shirley Franklin
Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
The Honorable Leticia Van de Putte
State Senator, Texas District 26
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Governor of Kansas
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Member of the US House of Representatives, California
Permanent Chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention

Turning Over the Gavel
The Honorable Howard Dean, temporary Chair of the Convention turns over the gavel to
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Permanent Chair of the 2008 Democratic Convention.

Remarks
The Honorable Doris Matsui, Parliamentarian
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

Andrew Tobias, Treasurer
Democratic Party Treasurer

Remarks by the Secretary and the Electronic Roll Call of Attendance
Alice Travis Germond - West Virginia
Secretary, Democratic Party
Member of the Democratic National Committee

Remarks – Presentation of Platform
The Honorable Patricia Madrid
Co-Chair Platform Committee
Attorney General of New Mexico

Judith McHale
Co-Chair Platform Committee
Business Executive (former President, Discovery Communications; Board of DigitalGlobal)

Remarks
The Honorable John Hickenlooper
Mayor of Denver, Colorado

Congressional Hispanic Caucus
The Honorable Joe Baca
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

The Honorable Grace Napolitano
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

The Honorable Silvestre Reyes
Member of the US House of Representatives, Texas

Remarks
Nancy Keenan
President, NARAL - Pro-Choice America

The Honorable Emil Jones, Jr.
State Senator, Illinois
Amanda Kubik
Young Delegate – North Dakota

Ret. Rear Admiral John Hutson,
Pres. Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord – lifetime Republican

Reg Weaver
President, National Education Association

The Honorable Manuel Diaz
Mayor of Miami, Florida

Video - Changing the Course of Our Nation
Featuring Gabrielle Grossman
New Hampshire Obama Supporter "U2 mamma for Obama"

Remarks
The Honorable Lisa Madigan
Attorney General, Illinois

The Honorable Dan Hynes
Comptroller, Illinois

The Honorable Alexi Giannoulis
State Treasurer, Illinois

Randi Weingarten
American Federation of Teachers

The Honorable Amy Klobuchar
US Senator, Minnesota

Musical Performance
John Legend (vocals & piano) and accompanied by:
Agape Choir - International Spiritual Center, Culver City, CA
Trans-denominational Spiritual Community founded by Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith

Video/Remarks
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Permanent Chair, Democratic National Convention

Video - First Time Delegates: Renewing America's Promise

America’s Town Hall – Economy
Moderator: Senator Sherrod Brown - Ohio,
Panelists: Ned Helms, Lisa Olivares, Dr. Laura Tyson, Jon Schnur

Remarks
Margie Perez
New Orleans jazz singer & song writer from Musicians Village

President Jimmy Carter Segment
Jimmy Carter/New Orleans Video
Acknowledgment of President Carter

Remarks
Maya Soetoro-Ng
Half-sister of Barack Obama
High School teacher - Hawaii

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Remarks
The Honorable Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Member of the US House of Representatives, Illinois

Mike Fisher & Cheryl Fisher – Beech Grove, Indiana
Mike – Amtrak tech & Cheryl – hospital tech (hosted Obama for lunch)

Tom Balanoff
President, SEIU Local 1 (Chicago)

Senator Edward M. Kennedy Tribute
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg
Daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy

Video - Edward M. Kennedy Video

Remarks
The Honorable Miguel Del Valle
City Clerk of Chicago, Illinois

Candi Schmieder
Delegate Chair, Iowa County Convention

Jerry Kellman
Hired & supervised Obama at Developing Communities Project - Chicago, Illinois

Introduction of Jim Leach by
The Honorable Tom Harkin
US Senator, Iowa

The Honorable Jim Leach
Former Republican Member of the US House of Representatives, 1st District, Iowa

Introduction of Claire McCaskill by
Austin Esposito
Son of Senator McCaskill

The Honorable Claire McCaskill
US Senator, Missouri

Video - Michelle Obama Package

Introduction to the Michelle Obama Package
Craig Robinson
Older brother of Michelle Obama

Remarks
Michelle Obama
Wife of Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

Benediction
Don Miller -Portland, Oregon
Best-selling author & public speaker focusing on Christian spirituality

Recess
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Governor of Kansas

Democratic National Convention Pepsi Center Delegate Seating Chart

Democratic National Convention Pepsi Center Delegate Seating Chart

Senator Amy Klobuchar To Address Democratic National Convention

Senator Amy Klobuchar to Address Democratic National Convention
Klobuchar to speak to nation on Monday, August 25 — same evening as Michelle Obama and former President Jimmy Carter

St. Paul (August 19, 2008) — The Democratic National Convention announced today that DFL United States Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota will address the Democratic National Convention on Monday, August 25. The theme of the convention on Monday will be “One Nation.” 

Senator Klobuchar has worked closely with Senator Barack Obama in the United States Senate on a number of issues, particularly toy safety and ethics reform. Senator Klobuchar also addressed the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston when she was Hennepin County Attorney.

Senator Klobuchar released the following statement:

“I'm honored to be a part of the convention's opening night, kicking off what will be an engaging and energizing convention that will lead our Party to victory in November. I share Senator Obama’s commitment to an agenda of change, and know that as president he can truly make us ‘One Nation.’ In the Senate, he and I have worked together to make a real difference in the lives of everyday Americans, and I look forward to sharing that story with the country.”

Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez released the following statement:

“It’s an honor for Minnesota and for the DFL Party that our senator will address America at the convention. With her Minnesota common sense and roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic, Amy Klobuchar has quickly established herself as a leader in the Senate. We’re thrilled that the rest of the country will get to learn more about her.”

Microsoft Working To Make 2008 Political Conventions Unconventional

Microsoft Working to Make Political Conventions Unconventional
Microsoft is helping transform the upcoming Democratic and Republican national conventions into the most technologically advanced and inclusive conventions ever held.

REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 19, 2008 — From a technological perspective, the 2008 Democratic and Republican national conventions will be unlike any before. With the help of Microsoft, both the Democrats and Republicans will transcend the walls of their respective venues through online events that give voters unprecedented levels of access and empowerment.

Microsoft is the Official Software and HD Web Content Provider for the 2008 Democratic National Convention - held Aug. 25-28 in Denver, Colo. - and the Official Technology Provider for the 2008 Republican National Convention, held Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Both parties want to use technology and the Web to engage more people in the convention experience this year than has been possible in the past.

“As we’ve seen throughout the primary season, technology is playing an increasingly critical role in the electoral process,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft’s senior vice president and general counsel. “Microsoft will help ensure that both parties’ delegates are able to take full advantage of the benefits that today’s technologies offer."

Several business-productivity, e-mail and real-time collaboration applications will be used at both conventions, including:

• Windows Server Active Directory for authenticating users attempting to access restricted applications;

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 for e-mail and scheduling;

• Microsoft Office SharePoint Server for online collaboration and document management;

• Microsoft Office Communications Server for instant messaging and tracking who is online at any given time (presence); and

• Microsoft Office Live Meeting for Web conferencing.

The 21st-Century Convention

Microsoft was a technology provider at the two 2004 conventions, but at that time the focus was primarily on creating a basic technology infrastructure for the events. This year, according to Joel Cherkis, general manger of Government Solutions for Microsoft and the technical coordinator of the company’s activities at both conventions, the role of technology is much more significant. “This time around, we are supplying both parties with some very innovative technology, such as interactive displays, portable music players and high-definition video streaming,” said Cherkis.

“Microsoft’s leadership in software development makes them an ideal partner for the DNCC,” said Leah Daughtry, CEO of the Democratic National Convention Committee. “Microsoft’s pioneering technology will play an integral role in powering the business of the convention and helping to involve more Americans in the convention experience than ever before.”

Innovation in the Twin Cities

For the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Microsoft is creating collaborative virtual workspaces, a volunteer management system and a venue-scheduling system. The electronic collaboration is designed to help the staff be more efficient and use less paper, in keeping with the convention’s green commitment. Convention attendees will also use Microsoft Forefront business security products to protect information and control access to online data.

To help the estimated 40,000 attendees at the convention find their way around, a series of “digital concierges” will be available. Microsoft Surface computing technology will help provide easy access to the latest convention and local information, including transportation routes, hotel locations, restaurant guides and entertainment options for Minneapolis – all through a natural interface requiring only natural hand gestures and touch.

In addition, the Surface computers at the convention center will offer interactive content related to the current and past conventions provided by the Library of Congress, such as video footage, photos and articles.

Microsoft is also co-sponsoring an essay contest for local St. Paul and Minneapolis teens. Students in grades seven through 12 were invited to submit essays on what the American flag means to them. The winning essayist, 15-year-old high school freshman Victoria Blackstone of Roseville, Minn., and the runner-up, 13-year-old eighth-grader Mark Rugnetta of Savage, Minn., will receive Xbox video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft and laptop computers from Qwest Communications. Blackstone will also be invited to lead the Pledge of Allegiance during the convention, and the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper will publish the two winning essays. Microsoft will also award Zune music players and educational software products to the other eight finalists.

Mile-High Tech

For the Democrats, Microsoft has created systems for media registration, delegate tracking, vote tracking, credentials management and podium operations.

In a first for a political convention, Microsoft, in conjunction with Level 3 Communications, will bring live, gavel-to-gavel high-definition video coverage of the four-day event to a worldwide audience via the convention’s Web site at http://www.demconvention.com/home/. Content will include live footage, data feeds, pictures, speaker information overlays and a daily “pre-game show” recapping the previous day’s activities and highlighting upcoming convention activities. These multimedia applications will be enabled by Silverlight, Microsoft’s technology for developing interactive Web applications and delivering high-definition video via the Web.

The use of Silverlight will make viewing the convention online a rich experience, offering larger, crisper pictures and the unprecedented opportunity for viewers to individually tailor their convention experiences, for both live and on-demand viewing. Viewers will have the ability to adjust screen sizes, view multiple streams simultaneously with a picture-in-picture feature, and view additional content such as the speaker’s bio, voting history or even commentary from political analysts on the same screen while watching a live speech. Viewers will also be able to easily share Silverlight segments with friends and colleagues.

“We’re using technology to break through the walls of the convention halls, creating virtual halls that can accommodate millions, all with a front-row seat,” said Cherkis.

Surface kiosks will also be set up at the Democratic event, offering local information and multimedia files from past conventions.

Microsoft will contribute to the Democrats’ “green” efforts by deploying power-management settings on all equipment, virtualizing the servers at the convention center and tracking the company’s carbon footprint for convention-related energy consumption, including all transport of goods and staff air and ground travel.

“Putting together all the technological aspects of these two conventions in the time we had to work with was really quite a feat,” said Cherkis. “We were contacted by both convention committees in June 2007. So we accomplished the equivalent of equipping two companies that went from startup to full production to maturity, in just 14 months.”

Democrats Add New Speakers, Announce Gavel Times For Opening Three Nights in Denver

THE 2008 CONVENTION: AMERICANS COMING TOGETHER FOR CHANGE
Democrats Add New Speakers, Announce Gavel Times For Opening Three Nights in Denver

DENVER – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for America Campaign today announced new speakers and gavel times for the opening three nights of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, to take place August 25th – 28th in Denver.

Joining the program on Monday, August 25th will be Former President Jimmy Carter; Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar; Miami Mayor Manny Diaz; Illinois state leaders Alexi Giannoulis, Dan Hynes, Lisa Madigan, and Tom Balanoff from Illinois SEIU; long-time Barack Obama mentor Jerry Kellman; NEA President Reg Weaver; AFT President Randi Weingarten; and NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan. The theme of Monday’s program is One Nation.

New speakers added to the program on Tuesday, August 26th are Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy; West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, Chair of the Democratic Governors’ Association; Iowa Governor Chet Culver; Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle; California State Controller John Chiang; Change to Win’s Anna Burger; AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; and Planned Parenthood of America President Cecile Richards. The theme of Tuesday’s program is Renewing America’s Promise.

On Wednesday, August 27th, new speakers addressing the theme of Securing America’s Future include Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

Organizers stressed that new names were being added daily to the Convention program and that there would be several major announcements on the program yet to come, including the program for the final night of the Convention and the names of the first-time delegates and everyday Americans who will be central to the Convention program. 

Also today, Convention organizers announced that the Convention will gavel open at 3:00 PM Mountain/5:00 PM Eastern and gavel down at 9:00 PM Mountain/11:00 PM Eastern, Monday through Wednesday, August 25th –27th.

PROGRAM SUMMARY TO DATE

Monday, August 25 – One Nation.
Barack Obama’s story is an American story that reflects a life of struggle, opportunity and responsibility like those faced by Americans everyday. The opening night of the Convention will highlight Barack’s life story, his commitment to change, and the voices of Americans who are calling for a new direction for this country.

Monday’s headline prime-time speaker will be Michelle Obama.

Other Monday night speakers include:
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri; Barack Obama’s sister Maya Soetero-Ng and Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama’s older brother; Jerry Kellman, mentor and long-time friend of Barack Obama;  Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr.;  former Indiana Representative Lee Hamilton; Tom Balanoff, President of Illinois SEIU; Nancy Keenan, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America; NEA President Reg Weaver; AFT President Randi Weingarten;  Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan; State Comptroller Dan Hynes; Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis; Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle; and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

Monday night will also feature a tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Tuesday, August 26 – Renewing America’s Promise.
Millions of Americans are struggling to get by. The failed policies of the last eight years have betrayed the country’s values and left an economy out of balance. Barack Obama believes a strong economy is unattainable with a weak middle class. Tuesday’s Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack’s concerns and strongly support his detailed economic plan to grow the economy, create jobs, restore fairness, and expand opportunity.

Senator Hillary Clinton will be the headline prime-time speaker and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday night. Pay Equity pioneer Lilly Ledbetter will also address the Convention on Tuesday.

Other Tuesday speakers will include:
Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana; Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts; Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas;  Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona; Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia; Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin; Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania; Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio; Governor David Paterson of New York; Governor Chet Culver of Iowa; Senator Bob Casey, Jr., of Pennsylvania; Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont; former Secretary of Energy and Transportation Federico Peña;  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer; House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel; Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Assistant to the Speaker of the House; and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chair Chris Van Hollen, who will use his time to showcase his top candidates for change.

Representatives Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mike Honda (D-CA), California Controller John Chiang, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Change To Win’s Anna Burger, and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will also speak.

Wednesday, August 27 – Securing America’s Future.
Barack Obama offers a new, tough foreign policy that is neither Republican nor Democratic, but is a strong, smart American foreign policy to make our country more secure and advance our interests in the world. Wednesday night’s Convention program will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack’s vision of making America stronger and safer.

The headline prime-time speaker on Wednesday will be Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential Nominee.

Featured speakers will include:
Former President Bill Clinton; former Senator Tom Daschle; Governor Bill Richardson and Senators Evan Bayh, Joe Biden, John Kerry and Jay Rockefeller. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Convention home state Senator Ken Salazar, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, and Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will lead a tribute honoring those who give so much to secure our nation’s future – veterans, active duty military and their families.

Thursday, August 28 – Change You Can Believe In.
On Thursday night, the DNCC will throw open the doors of the Convention and move to INVESCO Field at Mile High so that more Americans can be a part of the fourth night of the Convention as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination.  Obama will communicate the urgency of the moment, highlight the struggles Americans are facing and call on Americans to come together to change the course of our nation.  Additional details of the program to precede Barack Obama’s acceptance speech will be announced later this week.

THE 2008 CONVENTION: RENEWING AMERICA'S PROMISE - TUESDAY, AUGUST 26

THE 2008 CONVENTION: RENEWING AMERICA'S PROMISE - TUESDAY, AUGUST 26
Democrats to Highlight House Leadership & Rising House Stars

Featured Speakers: Xavier Becerra, Nydia Velazquez, Linda Sanchez, Tammy Baldwin and Mike Honda Chris Van Hollen and Top DCCC Candidates for Change 

DENVER –The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for America Campaign announced today that Tuesday night’s program for the Convention, Renewing America’s Promise, will feature leading voices from the U.S. House of the Representatives. 

“House members and House candidates have been advocating a strong message of change for America since the 2006 election,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Permanent Chair of the 2008 Convention, who will have a prominent speaking role on Monday, August 25th, the opening night of the Convention. “As the people’s representatives in Congress, it is our duty to hold the White House accountable to the needs of Americans who are struggling to get by. We desperately need change in the White House to move this country in a New Direction and renew America’s Promise.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel will speak Tuesday, as will DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen, who will use his time to showcase his top candidates for change.

Representatives Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak to Tuesday’s theme of Women and Economy.  Representative Mike Honda (D-CA) will also speak.

Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Assistant to the Speaker of the House, will speak late Tuesday night.

Other House Members speaking during Convention week include:

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Permanent Chair of the 2008 Convention, will deliver a major address on Monday, August 25th to open the Convention.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn and Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) will speak on Securing America’s Future on Wednesday night of the Convention.

National Obama Co-Chair Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) will also speak late Monday night to help tell Barack Obama’s life story and vision for the future.

Convention organizers stressed the program could still change and additional House Members could be included as part of future program announcements.

The Democratic National Convention will be held in Denver from August 25th through August 28th.

THE 2008 CONVENTION: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27TH- SECURING AMERICA’S FUTURE

THE 2008 CONVENTION: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27TH- SECURING AMERICA’S FUTURE
Tribute to Veterans, Active Duty Military & Military Families

DENVER – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for America Campaign announced today speakers and programmatic elements for the third night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  Wednesday’s program – Securing America’s Future – will feature the voices of Americans who share Barack Obama’s vision of making America stronger and safer.

The headline prime-time speaker on Wednesday will be Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential Nominee.

Barack Obama offers a new, tough foreign policy approach that is neither Republican nor Democratic.  Obama will implement a strong, smart American foreign policy that makes us more secure at home and advances our interests in the world by ending the war in Iraq responsibly and focusing on the threats of the 21st century - al Qaeda, nuclear weapons, and energy security.

Former President Bill Clinton will speak on Barack Obama’s commitment to a stronger and safer America, as well as the history of Democrats making positive change in the lives of all Americans.

Governor Bill Richardson and Senators Evan Bayh, Joe Biden and Jay Rockefeller will echo Obama’s call for a new direction in national security and outline his policies and plans to secure America’s future.

One of the greatest security challenges facing  the country today is reducing our dependence on oil, especially from foreign sources.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will discuss Barack Obama’s plans to make America more secure by investing in smart energy policies. 

Senator Ken Salazar, the Convention’s home state Senator, and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn will also speak as part of the Securing America’s Future program.

A bedrock component of Obama’s national security plan is increasing our support to active duty military, veterans and military families.  Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will lead a tribute honoring those who give so much to secure our nation’s future. 

THE 2008 CONVENTION: TUESDAY, AUGUST 26th – RENEWING AMERICA'S PROMISE

THE 2008 CONVENTION: TUESDAY, AUGUST 26th – RENEWING AMERICA'S PROMISE

Key Speakers on the Economy to Include Governors Napolitano, Patrick, Rendell, Schweitzer, Sebelius & Strickland; Senator Bob Casey, Jr. & Federico Peña 

DENVER – With millions of Americans struggling to get by, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for America Campaign announced today that some of America’s strongest leaders on the economy and energy will speak about how to renew America’s promise on Tuesday night of the Convention.  America’s top Governors, Senators and a former Secretary of Energy and Transportation will echo Barack Obama’s call for a new economy with new energy.

Tuesday night’s featured speakers include Convention Co-Chair Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, both early supporters of Barack Obama, who will outline his detailed economic plan to grow the economy, create jobs, restore fairness and expand opportunity. 

Governors Ted Strickland of Ohio and Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania will discuss how the failed policies of the last eight years have betrayed our values and left an economy out of balance.

Barack Obama believes you can’t have a strong economy when you have a weak middle class, and speakers like Senator Bob Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania and Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will share how Obama’s policies have been directly shaped by the people he has met as he traveled the country.

Building on Obama’s New Economy with New Energy message, Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Federico Peña, former Mayor of Denver and Secretary of both Energy and Transportation, will speak about the nexus between energy and the economy and highlight new and innovative policies to help working families in rural, urban and suburban communities.

As announced earlier this week, Mark Warner, former Governor of Virginia, will deliver the Convention’s keynote address, and Senator Hillary Clinton, who is a champion for working families and one of the most effective and empathetic voices in the country today, will be the headline prime-time speaker on Tuesday night.

C-SPAN Debuts Online "Convention Hub" For Upcoming Democratic And Republican Conventions,

C-SPAN DEBUTS ONLINE “CONVENTION HUB” FOR UPCOMING DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS

Washington, DC (August 12, 2008) -- C-SPAN announces today its “Convention Hub,” a unique online addition to the network’s coverage of the upcoming 2008 Democratic and Republican conventions.

Convention Hub, comprised of two websites, is designed to track coverage of the political blogosphere and social media, while making embeddable C-SPAN convention video available for online use.

C-SPAN’s Democratic Convention Hub and Republican Convention Hub are slated to launch at: www.c-span.org/politics later this month, just prior to the start of the two political party conventions.
C-SPAN has engaged New Media Strategies (NMS), an Arlington-based online intelligence and marketing firm, to design proprietary software technology for Convention Hub. C-SPAN will maintain editorial control over each of the websites.

Convention Hub features include:
• Real-time tracking of credentialed state and national political bloggers, aggregated on the websites, to enable users to follow the latest online convention news and analysis;
• Video clips from the network’s convention coverage, embeddable, to facilitate use by political bloggers and other convention watchers;
• Linkable access to the complete C-SPAN Video Library, allowing interested users to fully search all C-SPAN video content;
• Live coverage of C-SPAN television and radio networks;
• Blogger Tips and Online Convention Video Finder tools;
• Real-time feeds from Twitter users using the hash-tags #RNC08 and #DNC08

“For nearly 30 years, C-SPAN has given voice to the opinions of the American public through its televised call-in programs. In 2008, Convention Hub allows C-SPAN to become a central point for the political opinions of the online community,” said Susan Swain, C-SPAN Co-President.

“C-SPAN’s Convention Hub recognizes the importance of the online environment in shaping political news and conversation. Just as C-SPAN is known for direct interaction with viewers through call-ins, NMS will help C-SPAN build direct relationships with bloggers by linking, featuring, and even soliciting their content,” added Pete Snyder, NMS Founder and CEO.

Colorado Governor Ritter, Denver Mayor Hickenlooper To Address 2008 Democratic National Convention

COLORADO GOVERNOR RITTER, DENVER MAYOR HICKENLOOPER TO ADDRESS 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
Emblematic of the Democratic Party’s New Generation of Western Leaders, Hometown Governor and Mayor to ‘Bookend’ Convention Program

DENVER – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for America Campaign announced today that Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will address the 2008 Democratic National Convention held in Denver from August 25th through August 28th.

“We chose to come to Denver for our 2008 Convention because we believe we have a compelling story to tell in the West,” said Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. “Governor Ritter and Mayor Hickenlooper are examples of the kind of leadership Democrats bring to the West and to our nation.  We are grateful to them for their partnership throughout the Convention planning process, and we are proud to feature them both in the program we will put forth from Denver.”

“It’s tradition that the hometown mayor and governor play a role in the Convention program ­ -- but we couldn’t be more excited to showcase these two great leaders just two weeks from now. Without their help, we would never have been able to open the doors of the Convention to a record number of Coloradans,” said Matt Nugen, Convention Director for the Obama for America Campaign. “At this Convention, we’ll highlight the West, and both Governor Ritter and Mayor Hickenlooper are emblematic of Western leadership ­ -- pragmatic problem solvers who, like Barack Obama, do not let things like party affiliation get in the way of getting the job done.”

Mayor Hickenlooper will speak on the Convention’s opening night, Monday, August 25, at the Pepsi Center. In an effort to highlight the setting of the Convention and the importance of the Mountain West to the Democratic Party, Monday’s program will also feature a video segment introducing delegates and other Convention attendees to the natural beauty and strong voices of leadership in the region.

Governor Ritter will speak on the Convention’s closing night, Thursday, August 28, at INVESCO Field at Mile High. There, throwing open the doors to the 2008 Convention, Barack Obama will accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for President before more than 75,000 people.

The DNCC and the Obama Campaign will continue to announce elements of the 2008 Convention program throughout this week.