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| Democratic Convention diary | Democratic Convention diary |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Meet our convention reporters | Meet our convention reporters |
| Democratic Party super-delegate Connie Borde joins BBC reporters to give an insider's view of the drama, tension and razzmatazz of this week's Democratic Convention in Denver. | Democratic Party super-delegate Connie Borde joins BBC reporters to give an insider's view of the drama, tension and razzmatazz of this week's Democratic Convention in Denver. |
| MAX DEVESON: 25 August, 1355 MT, 1555 ET, 1955 GMT | MAX DEVESON: 25 August, 1355 MT, 1555 ET, 1955 GMT |
| She dropped out of the presidential race months ago, but Hillary Clinton - and her husband Bill - are still the talk of the convention. | She dropped out of the presidential race months ago, but Hillary Clinton - and her husband Bill - are still the talk of the convention. |
| There is much speculation as to whether Barack Obama's decision not even to vet her for the vice-presidency was a snub - and whether her supporters will view it that way. | There is much speculation as to whether Barack Obama's decision not even to vet her for the vice-presidency was a snub - and whether her supporters will view it that way. |
| Do you have any questions you would like to put to our convention diarists? If so, send them to us using the link below. Send us your questions | Do you have any questions you would like to put to our convention diarists? If so, send them to us using the link below. Send us your questions |
| She herself has made a bid for unity, by officially releasing all of the convention delegates who are pledged to her, allowing them to vote however they want. | She herself has made a bid for unity, by officially releasing all of the convention delegates who are pledged to her, allowing them to vote however they want. |
| The chances are, however, that most of them will still register their preference for Mrs Clinton when the floor vote takes place - after all, the reason they're in Denver is because they're hardcore Clintonites! | The chances are, however, that most of them will still register their preference for Mrs Clinton when the floor vote takes place - after all, the reason they're in Denver is because they're hardcore Clintonites! |
| I spoke to Abby and Lynne, delegates from Michigan, who are loyal Obama supporters but said they knew of at least one fellow Michigander who was sticking with Mrs Clinton. | I spoke to Abby and Lynne, delegates from Michigan, who are loyal Obama supporters but said they knew of at least one fellow Michigander who was sticking with Mrs Clinton. |
| They were glad about yesterday's agreement, reinstating full voting rights for the delegations from Florida and Michigan - although Lynn was sad she wasn't going to be able to wear her specially-made T-shirt, emblazoned with the slogan: "A half a vote with a whole heart". | They were glad about yesterday's agreement, reinstating full voting rights for the delegations from Florida and Michigan - although Lynn was sad she wasn't going to be able to wear her specially-made T-shirt, emblazoned with the slogan: "A half a vote with a whole heart". |
| Mrs Clinton's superdelegates - the senior party officials who get a vote at the convention by virtue of their position - will all almost certainly rally behind Mr Obama - including Mrs Clinton herself. | Mrs Clinton's superdelegates - the senior party officials who get a vote at the convention by virtue of their position - will all almost certainly rally behind Mr Obama - including Mrs Clinton herself. |
| While Mrs Clinton is busy attempting to sew the party together, her husband is perhaps being slightly less co-operative. | While Mrs Clinton is busy attempting to sew the party together, her husband is perhaps being slightly less co-operative. |
| If this story in the Politico is to be believed, the former president is unhappy that he has been asked by the Obama team to speak about national security - he'd rather talk about domestic issues, and the achievements of his own administration. | If this story in the Politico is to be believed, the former president is unhappy that he has been asked by the Obama team to speak about national security - he'd rather talk about domestic issues, and the achievements of his own administration. |
| And a former Clinton spokesman has gone on the record in the New Republic, asserting that Mr Clinton "feels like the Obama campaign ran against and systematically dismissed his administration's accomplishments. And he feels like he was painted as a racist during the primary process". | And a former Clinton spokesman has gone on the record in the New Republic, asserting that Mr Clinton "feels like the Obama campaign ran against and systematically dismissed his administration's accomplishments. And he feels like he was painted as a racist during the primary process". |
| Maybe today's announcement that Bruce Springsteen is to play on the last night of the convention will help bring about some much-needed party unity? | Maybe today's announcement that Bruce Springsteen is to play on the last night of the convention will help bring about some much-needed party unity? |
| CONNIE BORDE: 25 August, 0930 MT, 1130 ET, 1530 GMT | CONNIE BORDE: 25 August, 0930 MT, 1130 ET, 1530 GMT |
| Monday morning. All of the state delegations have now received their credentials. This is the most important morning ritual of the day, every day. Credentials are delivered to delegation hotels under armoured guard at 4.30am, and at 9am delegates stand in line to get their floor passes which we wear around our necks like badges of honour. | Monday morning. All of the state delegations have now received their credentials. This is the most important morning ritual of the day, every day. Credentials are delivered to delegation hotels under armoured guard at 4.30am, and at 9am delegates stand in line to get their floor passes which we wear around our necks like badges of honour. |
| At the same time comes the lottery for guest passes for the lucky few. Then we're off for the next few hours making the rounds of dozens of talkfests, caucuses, panels, lunches and meetings with some of the biggest power players in the Democratic Party. The greatest dilemma is... choice. | At the same time comes the lottery for guest passes for the lucky few. Then we're off for the next few hours making the rounds of dozens of talkfests, caucuses, panels, lunches and meetings with some of the biggest power players in the Democratic Party. The greatest dilemma is... choice. |
| You wish you could divide yourself up and do them all. The ADA (Americans for Democratic Action), the progressive policy group, meets at noon (Barney Frank! Jerry Nadler! Robert Kuttner!), just when the American European Institute hosts a duel of words among Richard Holbrooke, Florida Senator Bill Nelson and other luminaries. What to choose, where to go? (I'm opting for the ADA with the prodigious Representative Frank.) | You wish you could divide yourself up and do them all. The ADA (Americans for Democratic Action), the progressive policy group, meets at noon (Barney Frank! Jerry Nadler! Robert Kuttner!), just when the American European Institute hosts a duel of words among Richard Holbrooke, Florida Senator Bill Nelson and other luminaries. What to choose, where to go? (I'm opting for the ADA with the prodigious Representative Frank.) |
| The convention floor opens today at 4pm. We're all looking forward to the tribute to Senator Kennedy. | The convention floor opens today at 4pm. We're all looking forward to the tribute to Senator Kennedy. |
| And what about Unity? What about the Clintons? What about the 27% of Hillary supporters who say they're voting for McCain? More to come... later. | And what about Unity? What about the Clintons? What about the 27% of Hillary supporters who say they're voting for McCain? More to come... later. |
| JENNIFER COPESTAKE: 25 August, 0900 MT, 1100 ET, 1500 GMT | |
| After getting my credentials and being told which of the many levels of the convention centre I have access to (and the many levels I don't) my first goal was to find out something about Denver. So I headed into the city to meet the Mike Noe, the Interactive Editor of the Rocky Mountain News. | |
| The Rocky Mountain News office is in a stunning new building with gorgeous views. Mike said they were very lucky to get in it before the property market took a nose dive. We chatted for a while about Denver and what might influence Colorado voters in the election. | |
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| Mike Noe of the Rocky Mountain News says Denver has mixed views about the convention | |
| I spent the rest of Sunday wandering around the streets of Denver which is a very pleasant city. There was an interesting mix of people around: lots of Ralph Nader fans and even a few Ron Paul supporters; anarchists and Republicans; riot police and cowboys. A man selling Obama T-shirts also had an adorable Irish Setter puppy for sale. And there was this man selling non-partisan mints. | |
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| Specially produced Democratic and Republican mints on sale in Denver | |
| I ended my evening by talking to some very earnest young interns who are working at the convention and were sitting outside drinking coffee. | |
| I have to admit it's difficult to know exactly what the networking achieves but later I'm going to get a closer look at what delegates do with their days in Denver. | |
| CONNIE BORDE: 25 August, 0100 MT, 0300 ET, 0700 GMT | CONNIE BORDE: 25 August, 0100 MT, 0300 ET, 0700 GMT |
| Denver is a hub of Democratic activity. The grand reception for the delegates was held tonight, a festive affair with 6,000 fired-up attendees, delegates, super-delegates, Congress folks and other such afficionados, hosted by Louisiana with delicious food stations (shrimp gumbo, rice and black beans... mmm) every few meters, great live music and general upbeat atmosphere. | Denver is a hub of Democratic activity. The grand reception for the delegates was held tonight, a festive affair with 6,000 fired-up attendees, delegates, super-delegates, Congress folks and other such afficionados, hosted by Louisiana with delicious food stations (shrimp gumbo, rice and black beans... mmm) every few meters, great live music and general upbeat atmosphere. |
| Earlier in the day, serious business took place in the Credentials Committee, where both Florida and Michigan were reinstated as full-vote delegations. | Earlier in the day, serious business took place in the Credentials Committee, where both Florida and Michigan were reinstated as full-vote delegations. |
| To refresh your memories, both states had been sanctioned for holding their primaries outside the calendar that had been set by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). A DNC decision in June gave each state half-vote representation, but today the full vote was reinstated. | To refresh your memories, both states had been sanctioned for holding their primaries outside the calendar that had been set by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). A DNC decision in June gave each state half-vote representation, but today the full vote was reinstated. |
| Florida and Michigan are happy delegations tonight. This makes for opening the convention with a feeling of unity among the delegates, and that, after all, is what the theme of this week is all about. | Florida and Michigan are happy delegations tonight. This makes for opening the convention with a feeling of unity among the delegates, and that, after all, is what the theme of this week is all about. |
| Another reason for cheer: Joe Biden as Barack's vice-presidential choice wins unanimous support with every person I've crossed so far. | Another reason for cheer: Joe Biden as Barack's vice-presidential choice wins unanimous support with every person I've crossed so far. |
| MAX DEVESON: 25 August 1920 MT, 2120 ET, 0120 GMT | MAX DEVESON: 25 August 1920 MT, 2120 ET, 0120 GMT |
| This is my first time in Denver, and the city seems to have put on its best clothes for the convention. | This is my first time in Denver, and the city seems to have put on its best clothes for the convention. |
| On the way into the city from the airport, it's impossible to miss a field of solar panels stretching into the distance. They were laid down very recently - an attempt to impress the many environmentally-conscious delegates coming to Denver for the convention, perhaps? | On the way into the city from the airport, it's impossible to miss a field of solar panels stretching into the distance. They were laid down very recently - an attempt to impress the many environmentally-conscious delegates coming to Denver for the convention, perhaps? |
| Denver is an impressive city, with its clutch of skyscrapers spiking out of the Colorado plains, the foothills of the Rockies looming in the middle distance. | Denver is an impressive city, with its clutch of skyscrapers spiking out of the Colorado plains, the foothills of the Rockies looming in the middle distance. |
| Everywhere you turn, you get the feeling that Something Is About To Happen. | Everywhere you turn, you get the feeling that Something Is About To Happen. |
| Downtown, on my way to the Pepsi Center, where the convention is being held, I came upon a group of anti-war demonstrators marching down the city's main drag, accompanied by plenty of armed police. | Downtown, on my way to the Pepsi Center, where the convention is being held, I came upon a group of anti-war demonstrators marching down the city's main drag, accompanied by plenty of armed police. |
| One of the marchers was wearing a George W Bush mask, topped off with devil's horns. Another, dressed a little impractically for the summer heat, was clad in an ostrich costume - apparently John McCain is burying his head in the sand on economic policy. He was definitely a hit with all the children, who wanted to get their picture taken with him. | One of the marchers was wearing a George W Bush mask, topped off with devil's horns. Another, dressed a little impractically for the summer heat, was clad in an ostrich costume - apparently John McCain is burying his head in the sand on economic policy. He was definitely a hit with all the children, who wanted to get their picture taken with him. |
| We're all of us - marchers, police, journalists, delegates and ostriches - waiting with bated breath for tomorrow, when the show kicks off in earnest (possibly with a rumoured, and no doubt emotional, appearance from party legend Ted Kennedy, who is still recovering from his recent surgery for brain cancer). | We're all of us - marchers, police, journalists, delegates and ostriches - waiting with bated breath for tomorrow, when the show kicks off in earnest (possibly with a rumoured, and no doubt emotional, appearance from party legend Ted Kennedy, who is still recovering from his recent surgery for brain cancer). |
| CONNIE BORDE: 24 August, early morning | CONNIE BORDE: 24 August, early morning |
| Fired-up and ready to go to Denver, in Boston Logan Airport waiting to board, my computer inbox flooded with invitations to talkfests and parties, my anticipations are high for what promises to be a very different kind of Convention: technologically savvy with live streaming and daily webcasts, a partnership with YouTube, 120 credentialed blogs, a Spanish simulcast... more people will be able to see it than ever before in history. | Fired-up and ready to go to Denver, in Boston Logan Airport waiting to board, my computer inbox flooded with invitations to talkfests and parties, my anticipations are high for what promises to be a very different kind of Convention: technologically savvy with live streaming and daily webcasts, a partnership with YouTube, 120 credentialed blogs, a Spanish simulcast... more people will be able to see it than ever before in history. |
| And more people want to see it. Barack Obama's personal story, his roller-coaster-riding nomination and the suspenseful nomination of Joe Biden as Vice-President have captured the attention of the whole country and the whole world. | And more people want to see it. Barack Obama's personal story, his roller-coaster-riding nomination and the suspenseful nomination of Joe Biden as Vice-President have captured the attention of the whole country and the whole world. |
| No-one knows this more than a Democratic super-delegate coming from abroad, where Barack Obama swept 68% in a global primary and where the potential to register hundreds of thousands of new voters is becoming a reality. (Take a look at this YouTube video made with Gwyneth Paltrow, who will be voting in London.) | No-one knows this more than a Democratic super-delegate coming from abroad, where Barack Obama swept 68% in a global primary and where the potential to register hundreds of thousands of new voters is becoming a reality. (Take a look at this YouTube video made with Gwyneth Paltrow, who will be voting in London.) |
| The next few days promise more emotions, significant speakers (but short speeches), a heart-thumping roll call for Senator Clinton, the much-awaited Bill Clinton address to his Party and the lovefest that we expect will follow. | The next few days promise more emotions, significant speakers (but short speeches), a heart-thumping roll call for Senator Clinton, the much-awaited Bill Clinton address to his Party and the lovefest that we expect will follow. |
| All eyes on Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, Mark Warner, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Hillary and... Barack. Time to fasten seatbelts. Time to go West. | All eyes on Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, Mark Warner, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Hillary and... Barack. Time to fasten seatbelts. Time to go West. |
| OUR DIARISTS | OUR DIARISTS |
| Connie Borde is a super-delegate representing Democrats Abroad. She has lived in France for some 40 years, and lectured for half of this period at the prestigious Sciences Po institute in Paris. She has authored or co-authored books on American cooking, American politics, and English grammar - and is currently translating Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex. "I always supported Barack Obama," she says. "But I waited to give my super-delegate vote until February 2008 when Democrats Abroad France (my constituency) voted in his favour by 71%." She has a French husband, and six children. | Connie Borde is a super-delegate representing Democrats Abroad. She has lived in France for some 40 years, and lectured for half of this period at the prestigious Sciences Po institute in Paris. She has authored or co-authored books on American cooking, American politics, and English grammar - and is currently translating Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex. "I always supported Barack Obama," she says. "But I waited to give my super-delegate vote until February 2008 when Democrats Abroad France (my constituency) voted in his favour by 71%." She has a French husband, and six children. |
| Max Deveson, 30, is the BBC News website's Washington reporter. He joined the BBC in 2001 to work as a political analyst in Westminster, later moving to the online world news team. He has an obsessive interest in the US and its politics and was particularly excited to land an interview with Ted Kennedy on his first assignment in Washington this year. When not obsessing about US politics, Max enjoys attempting to play Iron and Wine songs on the guitar. | Max Deveson, 30, is the BBC News website's Washington reporter. He joined the BBC in 2001 to work as a political analyst in Westminster, later moving to the online world news team. He has an obsessive interest in the US and its politics and was particularly excited to land an interview with Ted Kennedy on his first assignment in Washington this year. When not obsessing about US politics, Max enjoys attempting to play Iron and Wine songs on the guitar. |
| Jennifer Copestake, 25, is an online video producer for World News America. She's been with the programme since its first broadcast in October 2007. After the conventions she'll be video-blogging from a BBC election bus on a 38-day road trip across the country. Jennifer was born in Canada and has reported for the CBC, the Hill Times, the Observer and More 4 News. She's been in Washington since early summer, but will return one day to London, where she lives with her fiance and two cats. | Jennifer Copestake, 25, is an online video producer for World News America. She's been with the programme since its first broadcast in October 2007. After the conventions she'll be video-blogging from a BBC election bus on a 38-day road trip across the country. Jennifer was born in Canada and has reported for the CBC, the Hill Times, the Observer and More 4 News. She's been in Washington since early summer, but will return one day to London, where she lives with her fiance and two cats. |
| The BBC News website will also publish a diary of the Republican Convention, featuring Louisiana delegate Mike Bayham. | The BBC News website will also publish a diary of the Republican Convention, featuring Louisiana delegate Mike Bayham. |
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What do you want to ask about the convention? What about the state of the Democratic Party? Or the Obama-Biden ticket? Send us your questions now using the form below: | What do you want to ask about the convention? What about the state of the Democratic Party? Or the Obama-Biden ticket? Send us your questions now using the form below: |
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