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Democrats await key Obama speech Democrats await key Obama speech
(30 minutes later)
Barack Obama is set to address US Democrats at the party's national convention, a day after being chosen as their candidate for the White House.Barack Obama is set to address US Democrats at the party's national convention, a day after being chosen as their candidate for the White House.
Mr Obama, the first African-American to be nominated for president by a major US party, will formally accept his historic candidacy in Denver, Colorado.Mr Obama, the first African-American to be nominated for president by a major US party, will formally accept his historic candidacy in Denver, Colorado.
It comes exactly 45 years since Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" address. Former Vice-President Al Gore told some 75,000 people gathered to hear Mr Obama this was a chance to "change course".
His son, Martin Luther King III, told the convention that his father's dream lived on in Mr Obama's candidacy. The event comes 45 years since Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" address.
Speaking at the Invesco stadium in Denver where Mr Obama is to appear later, he said: "We are all the children of the dream and he is here in all of our hearts and minds. The civil rights leader's son, Martin Luther King III, told the convention that his father's dream lived on in Mr Obama's candidacy.
Speaking at the Invesco stadium in Denver, where Mr Obama is to appear later, he said: "We are all the children of the dream and he is here in all of our hearts and minds.
"But not only that, he is in the hopes and dreams, the competence and courage, the rightness and readiness of Barack Obama.""But not only that, he is in the hopes and dreams, the competence and courage, the rightness and readiness of Barack Obama."
If you like the Bush-Cheney approach, John McCain's your man. If you want change, then vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden Former Vice-President Al Gore href="/1/hi/world/americas/7581229.stm">Convention programme class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7574423.stm">Voters' views on the conventionDiary: Democrats get down In his speech, former Vice-President Al Gore called on the Democrats to "seize this opportunity for change" and elect Mr Obama. If you like the Bush-Cheney approach, John McCain's your man. If you want change, then vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden Former Vice-President Al Gore href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5278&edition=1">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7574423.stm">Voters' views on the conventionDiary: Democrats get down In his speech, Mr Gore called on the Democrats to "seize this opportunity for change" and elect Mr Obama.
Linking Mr McCain firmly to the policies of President George W Bush, Mr Gore said it was vital that Americans changed course if they wanted to tackle a "self-inflicted economic crisis", protect the rights of every American and halt global warming.Linking Mr McCain firmly to the policies of President George W Bush, Mr Gore said it was vital that Americans changed course if they wanted to tackle a "self-inflicted economic crisis", protect the rights of every American and halt global warming.
"If you like the Bush-Cheney approach, John McCain's your man. If you want change, then vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden," he said."If you like the Bush-Cheney approach, John McCain's your man. If you want change, then vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden," he said.
Mr Gore added that the US was "facing a planetary emergency" and that the ties of Mr McCain and the Republicans to big oil firms meant they would not act to end the country's reliance on fossil fuels.Mr Gore added that the US was "facing a planetary emergency" and that the ties of Mr McCain and the Republicans to big oil firms meant they would not act to end the country's reliance on fossil fuels.
"So what can we do about it?" he asked. "We can carry Barack Obama's message of hope and change to every family in America.""So what can we do about it?" he asked. "We can carry Barack Obama's message of hope and change to every family in America."
Mr Gore's address, warmly received by the crowd, followed performances from singers Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and John Legend.Mr Gore's address, warmly received by the crowd, followed performances from singers Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and John Legend.
However, the key speech of the night will be that of Mr Obama. However, the key speech of the night will be that of Mr Obama, scheduled for 2015 (0215 GMT).
'Open convention'
According to excerpts released ahead of his address, Mr Obama will promise to reverse the economic downturn afflicting the US and restore the nation's standing in the world.According to excerpts released ahead of his address, Mr Obama will promise to reverse the economic downturn afflicting the US and restore the nation's standing in the world.
Some 75,000 people have gathered to watch Mr Obama's speech
He will also attack the record of the Bush administration and his Republican rival for the presidency, John McCain.He will also attack the record of the Bush administration and his Republican rival for the presidency, John McCain.
"We are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight years," he will say."We are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look just like the last eight years," he will say.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who himself ran for the Democratic nomination before withdrawing and eventually endorsing Mr Obama, also attacked the Republicans in his speech. Mr Obama's vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden made an unscheduled appearance on stage to tell the crowds: "When we talked about an open convention, this is what the Democrats meant."
The Obama campaign took the unusual move of holding the closing night speeches in the sports stadium to allow ordinary voters, as well as party delegates, to attend.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who himself ran for the Democratic nomination before withdrawing and eventually endorsing Mr Obama, used his speech to attack the Republicans.
While Mr McCain should be respected for his wartime service, he told the convention, that was no reason to elect him president.While Mr McCain should be respected for his wartime service, he told the convention, that was no reason to elect him president.
Coronation grandeurCoronation grandeur
Mr Obama's much-anticipated appearance, scheduled for 2015 (0215 GMT), will be the highlight of the party's carefully choreographed four-day event. Mr Obama's much-anticipated appearance will be the highlight of the party's carefully choreographed four-day event.
Some 75,000 people have gathered to watch Mr Obama's speech
It is likely to have all the pomp and grandeur of a coronation, says the BBC's Matthew Price at the Denver Bronco's stadium.It is likely to have all the pomp and grandeur of a coronation, says the BBC's Matthew Price at the Denver Bronco's stadium.
Questions remain as to whether Mr Obama can cement his standing within his own party, and reach out to those parts of the electorate that are yet to be convinced by him, our correspondent notes.Questions remain as to whether Mr Obama can cement his standing within his own party, and reach out to those parts of the electorate that are yet to be convinced by him, our correspondent notes.
He was resoundingly endorsed by ex-President Bill Clinton on Wednesday, which may help consolidate his standing.He was resoundingly endorsed by ex-President Bill Clinton on Wednesday, which may help consolidate his standing.
Earlier that same day, in a moment of high drama, his defeated rival Hillary Clinton cut short a roll-call vote to endorse Mr Obama's candidacy by acclamation, in a powerful gesture of unity.Earlier that same day, in a moment of high drama, his defeated rival Hillary Clinton cut short a roll-call vote to endorse Mr Obama's candidacy by acclamation, in a powerful gesture of unity.
'New approach' Mr Obama's running mate, Senator Joe Biden, accepted his own nomination for vice-president in a speech that was sharply critical of Mr McCain.
Mr Obama made a surprise appearance on stage on Wednesday after his running mate, Senator Joe Biden, accepted his own nomination for vice-president in a speech that was sharply critical of Mr McCain.
Mr Biden stressed the need for a new approach to help Americans struggling to make ends meet and to change US foreign policy in the rest of the world.
The 65-year-old foreign policy expert was chosen as vice-presidential candidate by 47-year-old Mr Obama partly on account of his experience.
The presidential election on 4 November will pit Mr Obama against Mr McCain, who will be nominated next week at his party's convention in St Paul, Minnesota.The presidential election on 4 November will pit Mr Obama against Mr McCain, who will be nominated next week at his party's convention in St Paul, Minnesota.
Republican officials say their contender, John McCain, has chosen his running-mate, but the person's identity has not yet been announced.Republican officials say their contender, John McCain, has chosen his running-mate, but the person's identity has not yet been announced.
Mr McCain is due to hold a 10,000-strong rally in the swing state of Ohio on Friday, at which it was expected he would present his vice-presidential candidate.Mr McCain is due to hold a 10,000-strong rally in the swing state of Ohio on Friday, at which it was expected he would present his vice-presidential candidate.
Rumours swirled on Thursday amid reports that a front-runner for the role, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, had abruptly cancelled several appointments for the next day.Rumours swirled on Thursday amid reports that a front-runner for the role, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, had abruptly cancelled several appointments for the next day.