12 NEWS BLOG: Democrats make history, more celebration Thursday

Democrats make history, more celebration tomorrow
Aug. 27, 11pm

It's nearly midnight at the Pepsi Center in Denver, and TV news crews are packing up their cameras and cables. Facing an emptying arena after an emotional program, there's a sense of finality.

This evening, Sen. Hillary Clinton, the first woman with a real shot at the presidency, capped off her protracted campaign with a historic move. She stopped the roll call vote, officially nominating Barack Obama, the first African-American nominee of a major party.

Then, the man seen by some as the last Hillary holdout, former President Bill Clinton, brought the message home. After that, an emotional introduction of vice presidential candidate Joe Biden. The night ended with Obama, striding on stage, hugging Biden, and addressing the audience.

But wait - there's more. Tomorrow more than 70,000 people will celebrate with Obama at Invesco Field, a short distance from the Pepsi Center.

Clinton Countdown #2
Aug. 27, 6pm

Ten minutes left until former President Bill Clinton takes the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

People are filling in to the last row on the third level. Any minute the Fire Marshal is expected to stop people from entering because the crowd is so big.

We did an informal poll of dozen people in the audience. They're split 50-50 on who they are more interested in hearing Sen. Joe Biden or the former President. Everyone told us Mr. Clinton would ask democrats to unite behind Barack Obama, but they don't think he'll be very convincing.

Clinton strategist shares plan
Aug. 27

Arizona delegates gained insight into the presidential race from one of the Democratic Party's best strategists, Terry McAuliffe. They listened to McAuliffe, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, over breakfast Wednesday morning.

McAuliffe thanked the delegates for giving Clinton a win in Arizona's Primary, but he told them it's time to back Barack Obama. He also proclaimed, "We are unified. We all love each other."

To win in the presidency in November, McAuliffe told the democrats they have to win Ohio and Virginia. "But if we can send a signal and pick off Arizona," he continued, "it would bury the Republican party for 25 years."

Perhaps in an effort to motivate Clinton delegates to get active in the Obama campaign, McAuliffe also reminded them of the painful loss in the 2000 presidential race. He said George W. Bush won because his supporters "worked harder and they wanted it more than we did."

Republican Reacts to Governor's speech: Obama will kill jobs
Aug. 26, 11pm

Reaction is coming in from Republicans on Governor Janet Napolitano's DNC speech Tuesday about Barack Obama's plan for financial help for middle-class families.

Secretary of State Jan Brewer sent a statement this morning calling into question the governor's own financial abilities.

"It’s always good to see an Arizona Governor talking about our state on the national stage," Brewer said, "but she conveniently left out the circumstances of our state’s billion dollar budget deficit."

Napolitano questioned McCain's understanding of the economy. Brewer questioned the wisdom of Obama's policies:

"Not only has Obama voted against tax cuts and for tax increases nearly 100 times in his short career, he thinks we need more of the same. He’s wrong. There is no better way to kill jobs and move our American businesses oversees that to raise taxes during an economic downturn. It’s a terrible idea, and we’re better than that. John McCain will prove it."