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| Democrats gather to endorse Obama | Democrats gather to endorse Obama |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US Democrats have gathered in Denver, Colorado, to nominate Barack Obama as the first African-American candidate for a presidential election. | |
| Opening the convention, Democrat chairman Howard Dean praised the "strength and unity" of the party. | |
| The Democrats are looking to use the four-day event to present the Illinois senator's personal side and heal the rifts of the bruising primaries race. | |
| The schedule is packed with speeches from party seniors and Obama relatives. | The schedule is packed with speeches from party seniors and Obama relatives. |
| Monday's keynote speech from Mr Obama's wife, Michelle, will be broadcast nationwide on prime-time television. | Monday's keynote speech from Mr Obama's wife, Michelle, will be broadcast nationwide on prime-time television. |
| "Looking out from this podium tonight, I see this diverse assembly of Democrats as a testament to the strength and unity of our party," said Mr Dean, banging a wooden gavel to formally open the convention. | |
| Mr Obama, 47, will formally accept the party's nomination when he addresses a crowd of 80,000 at a sports stadium on Thursday night, fresh from touring electoral battlegrounds. | Mr Obama, 47, will formally accept the party's nomination when he addresses a crowd of 80,000 at a sports stadium on Thursday night, fresh from touring electoral battlegrounds. |
| Speaking to reporters in Illinois on Monday, Mr Obama said his speech would be "workman-like". | |
| "I'm not aiming for a lot of high rhetoric," he said. "I'm much more concerned with communicating how I intend to help middle-class families live their lives." | |
| Potential flash-point | |
| The convention has two goals, said Bill Burton, a spokesman for Mr Obama. | The convention has two goals, said Bill Burton, a spokesman for Mr Obama. |
| "We want to make sure people know exactly who Senator Obama is and where he wants to take the country, and two, that voters know their choice in this election," he said. | "We want to make sure people know exactly who Senator Obama is and where he wants to take the country, and two, that voters know their choice in this election," he said. |
| Party officials have downplayed any scope for discord after Mr Obama chose veteran Senator Joseph Biden as his running mate. 'A mile high, an inch deep'. That slogan - on the wall of the Republican war room here in Denver - is the claim to beat this week BBC North America Editor, Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in full | Party officials have downplayed any scope for discord after Mr Obama chose veteran Senator Joseph Biden as his running mate. 'A mile high, an inch deep'. That slogan - on the wall of the Republican war room here in Denver - is the claim to beat this week BBC North America Editor, Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in full |
| Analysts were predicting some of Hillary Clinton's backers, angry that she was never seriously considered for the role, could try to upset the party. | Analysts were predicting some of Hillary Clinton's backers, angry that she was never seriously considered for the role, could try to upset the party. |
| But Mrs Clinton, addressing New York delegates, urged them to throw their support behind Mr Obama. | But Mrs Clinton, addressing New York delegates, urged them to throw their support behind Mr Obama. |
| "We are united behind Barack Obama and Joe Biden and we're going to make sure that we win on November 4, so let's have a great election," she said. | "We are united behind Barack Obama and Joe Biden and we're going to make sure that we win on November 4, so let's have a great election," she said. |
| The official party line is that all is sweetness and light in Denver, BBC North America editor Justin Webb reports from the city. | The official party line is that all is sweetness and light in Denver, BBC North America editor Justin Webb reports from the city. |
| However, our correspondent adds, there may still be a potential flash-point on Wednesday night. | However, our correspondent adds, there may still be a potential flash-point on Wednesday night. |
| A roll-call of delegates will be taken and Mrs Clinton's supporters will get the chance to make a symbolic effort to have her nominated. CONVENTION AGENDA Monday: Michelle Obama speech on Obama the man; tribute to Ted KennedyTuesday: Hillary Clinton speech; keynote speech by former Virginia governor Mark WarnerWednesday: Speeches by Bill Clinton and Joe Biden; vote to confirm Barack Obama as party's candidateBarack Obama to accept nomination with speech in stadium Voters' views on the conventionDelegate's Denver diary | A roll-call of delegates will be taken and Mrs Clinton's supporters will get the chance to make a symbolic effort to have her nominated. CONVENTION AGENDA Monday: Michelle Obama speech on Obama the man; tribute to Ted KennedyTuesday: Hillary Clinton speech; keynote speech by former Virginia governor Mark WarnerWednesday: Speeches by Bill Clinton and Joe Biden; vote to confirm Barack Obama as party's candidateBarack Obama to accept nomination with speech in stadium Voters' views on the conventionDelegate's Denver diary |
| Although she has asked them to switch their formal allegiance to Mr Obama, some Clinton supporters may not play ball, our correspondent notes. | Although she has asked them to switch their formal allegiance to Mr Obama, some Clinton supporters may not play ball, our correspondent notes. |
| They will be aware of the revelation over the weekend that Mrs Clinton was never legally vetted as a vice-presidential candidate, meaning she was never seriously considered for the post. | They will be aware of the revelation over the weekend that Mrs Clinton was never legally vetted as a vice-presidential candidate, meaning she was never seriously considered for the post. |
| A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll published last Wednesday suggested that only 52% of people who voted for Hillary Clinton during the primaries had so far decided to vote for Mr Obama in November. | A Wall Street Journal/NBC poll published last Wednesday suggested that only 52% of people who voted for Hillary Clinton during the primaries had so far decided to vote for Mr Obama in November. |
| About one-fifth said they would vote for the Republicans' John McCain while 27% had not yet decided how they would vote, according to the survey. | About one-fifth said they would vote for the Republicans' John McCain while 27% had not yet decided how they would vote, according to the survey. |
| Life story | Life story |
| More than 4,000 Democratic delegates and tens of thousands of officials, activists, protesters and journalists have descended on Denver for the four-day convention. | More than 4,000 Democratic delegates and tens of thousands of officials, activists, protesters and journalists have descended on Denver for the four-day convention. |
| Monday's focus is on the White House hopeful's life story - apart from his wife Michelle, there will also be speeches from her brother, Craig Robinson, and Mr Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetero-Ng.Mr Dean said the party's diversity was a testament to its strengths | |
| After being attacked by Mr McCain's campaign as a "celebrity", Mr Obama has been trying to portray himself as an ordinary family man. | After being attacked by Mr McCain's campaign as a "celebrity", Mr Obama has been trying to portray himself as an ordinary family man. |
| "Barack Obama's story is an American story that reflects a life of struggle, opportunity and responsibility like those faced by Americans everyday," the Democratic Party said in a statement. | "Barack Obama's story is an American story that reflects a life of struggle, opportunity and responsibility like those faced by Americans everyday," the Democratic Party said in a statement. |
| There will also be emotional tributes paid to Senator Edward Kennedy, scion of the iconic Democrat family, who was diagnosed with brain cancer recently. | There will also be emotional tributes paid to Senator Edward Kennedy, scion of the iconic Democrat family, who was diagnosed with brain cancer recently. |
| Rumours circulating around the convention suggest the 76-year-old may even make an appearance in Denver, reports said. | Rumours circulating around the convention suggest the 76-year-old may even make an appearance in Denver, reports said. |
| Meanwhile, the McCain campaign has been raking through the Democratic primary archives for quotes by Hillary Clinton and others for use in adverts and press releases questioning Mr Obama's experience. | Meanwhile, the McCain campaign has been raking through the Democratic primary archives for quotes by Hillary Clinton and others for use in adverts and press releases questioning Mr Obama's experience. |
| "The power to this message is that you're using the Democrats' own words," said Republican strategist Scott Reed. | "The power to this message is that you're using the Democrats' own words," said Republican strategist Scott Reed. |
What is your reaction to the first day of the Democratic Convention? You can send us your views using the form below: | What is your reaction to the first day of the Democratic Convention? You can send us your views using the form below: |