MONDAY
Theme: One Nation
Headline speaker: Michelle Obama
Inside the Pepsi Center: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Former President Jimmy Carter; Barack Obama's half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng; Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson; Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois and several other politicians from Obama’s home state; a welcome from Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper; and a tribute to Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts.
Outside the convention hall: A Hispanic voters rally and a Rock the Vote concert featuring Fall Out Boy.
QUOTABLE
“Having the convention in Denver is as incredible as Olympic gold and crazier than John McCain's policy platform, but much more fun.” --Matt Farrauto, spokesman for the Colorado Democratic Party
FAST FACTS
The convention begins today in Denver and runs through Thursday. Some facts about the host city:
- Denver is the 20th largest metropolitan area in America.
- Denver’s nickname: The Mile High City
- Average days of sunshine: 300
- Average high temperature in August: 85 degrees
- Block of Denver-area hotel rooms held by the Democratic Party for the convention: 17,000
- Weeks it took to change the Pepsi Center from a sports arena to a convention hall: Seven
NEWSMAKERS
Michelle Obama will take the stage tonight as the first prime-time speaker of the convention. It will be a family affair - she’ll be introduced by her older brother, Craig Robinson.
The Chicago native and Harvard-educated lawyer is expected to talk about her husband’s life, his values and why she believes he will be a good president.
The 44-year-old mother of two girls has taken flack for some of her own comments throughout the campaign, so expect her speech to be closely scrutinized.
NOTABLE
One Denver bar is mixing up its drink menu for the convention.
The Corner Office bar and restaurant will offer an Obama-tini with orange flavored vodka, apricot brandy, orange juice and a splash of bourbon, hostess Bailey Mesch said.
Conventioneers can also sip a BingBama – that’s a cherry drink with vodka - and a Dean martini named for Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean.
But nothing tops the Economic Prosper-tini -- two ounces of Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac that goes for $250 a drink.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement