Colorado & Denver News

by Michael Choy, cbs4denver.com
DENVER (CBS4) ― Editor's Note: CBS4 Web producer Michael Choy is blogging from inside Invesco Field on the day of Barack Obama's acceptance speech.

10:44 p.m. John McCain's campaign issued a long, detailed response to Obama's speech, listing off several points it thinks were misleading. You can find the entire press release at www.johnmccain.com.

10:40 p.m. Back at the station now after waiting in traffic since about 10 p.m. to get back to the station. There were several RTD buses heading west (although they never moved) on 13th Ave. as we headed back to the station. They all said "Shuttle" but they were empty and not moving an inch. Will they ever have passengers?

9:15 p.m. Obama will be at Invesco for another hour. He heads to a friends and family reception afterwards and then to a National Finance Committee gathering.

9:04 p.m. The two couples huddle at the front of the stage, walk back to greet their families at the back with hugs and high-fives, and then exit as the music, which might best be described as triumphant, continues to play before the benediction.

8:58 p.m. Obama's family joins him on stage, along with Joe Biden and his family. The fireworks and confetti shoot from behind the stage and around the stadium's upper ring, all done to a movie-style musical score. All the time, the crowd cheers, applauds and shouts "Yes we can," from time to time. The confetti flies through the air like snow.

8:55 p.m. Obama ends with: "America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess." Read his complete speech here.

8:45 p.m. A few minutes earlier, Obama hit some bullet points and offered what he hopes are some more details on his economic plan to cut taxes for 95 percent of "all working families," pay for programs and still have money to run the government. Analysts have said his speeches have been thin on details. See if he offered more in your opinion during Thursday's acceptance speech. Read his complete speech here.

8:40 p.m. Obama: "If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament, and judgment, to serve as the next Commander-in-Chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have." Read his complete speech here.

8:30 p.m. Obama hits back at one of McCain's most repeated attacks in commercials. "I don't know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine. These are my heroes," he said referring to the family members who sacrificed to give him a chance and the hard working Americans he has met along the way. Read his complete speech here.

8:15 p.m. Obama entered to a thunderous standing ovation and cheers after an introduction video about his person and political life. The crowd kept chanting Yes We Can for a minute or so while Obama said "Thank you." Read his complete speech here.

7:55 p.m. The Associated Press reports 84,000 people are in attendance in Invesco Field.

7:47 p.m. Rivera is back to say that more than 30,000 sent text messages to the Obama campaign. He encourages more to text DNC to 62262. Now more music plays to fill time until the top of the hour when the Obama program starts.

7:30 p.m. The following are direct notes from the DNCC Web site schedule for tonight on the American Voices speakers:

Roy Gross – Michigan Teamster car transport driver affected by decline in car manufacturing

Monica Early – New to campaigning, this Akron mother & grandmother is an Obama volunteer

Janet Lynn Monacco – Struggling small business owner from Melbourne, FL with health issues

Teresa Asenap – Albuquerque, New Mexico public school worker concerned about economy

Pamela Cash-Roper – Unemployed nurse and lifelong Republican from North Carolina

Barney Smith – Marion, Indiana plant worker - lost job of 30 yrs when plant moved to China

7:24 p.m. Sen. Biden takes the stage to point out the open convention style that has brought so many to Invesco. He may be introducing the "regular" American voices, people from across the country who will speak next about their concerns on the economy.

7:17 p.m. A parade of generals walk out on stage, including Wesley Clark, to sand behind Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, USAF (Ret.) who is up there to talk about why they support Obama as commander-in-chief.

Gration says that Obama understands the complex threats of the 21st century. "He has a strategy to use all elements of our power to keep America safe."

7:14 p.m. Susan Eisenhower says "Overseas, our credibility is at an all-time low."

On a side note, Charlie Gibson of ABC News just went to the bathroom next to me. He rushed out to get back on the field before security locked it down. (Read between the lines.)

7:05 p.m. Crowd does the wave around the stadium before McDonald performs. He dedicates song to Americans serving overseas. He sings "America The Beautiful."

7:00 p.m. Singer/songwriter Michael McDonald performs next, followed by a one-two national security/foreign relations punch from the Democrats. First, the granddaughter of President Eisenhower talks about why she's supporting Obama. Then a retired Air Force general who recently served at European Command takes the stage to say why he's behind Obama.

6:55 p.m. Gore: "Many people have been waiting for some sign that our country is ready for such change ... I think we might recognize it as a sign of such change if we saw millions of young people getting involved for the first time in the political process. This election is actually not close at all among younger voters."

6:51 p.m. Gore spends a big chunk of his speech talking about his signature issue: Climate Crisis.

6:48 p.m. Gore: "I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous," referring to what he says is McCain endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney administration.

6:47 p.m. Gore says that if the 2000 election had gone differently, the U.S. wouldn't be "bogged down" in Iraq and the military would have gone after Osama bin Laden until he was caught.

6:45 p.m. Al Gore takes the stage.

6:30 p.m. Stevie Wonder takes the stage to perform. The lyrics to his song include "unity." Then he sings "Yes we can," followed by "sign, sealed, delivered."

6:20 p.m. Lines to get into Invesco Field reportedly stretched for miles late this afternoon and into this evening. The newsroom reports they are getting shorter, but still long. With everyone having to go through a limited number of security checkpoints, a bottle-neck was to be expected.

6:15 p.m. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine spoke after Udall, talking about Obama's plans for the economy. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was next talking about McCain's personal spending, energy policy and foreign policy.

6:05 p.m. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., a candidate for U.S. Senate, addresses the crowd to say Democrats have always led change in the country and said Colorado, the heart of the West, has always led that change. "We know there's no problem we can't solve when we stick together."

Udall said the election isn't about any candidate, but about "you" the people.

5:48 p.m. Sheryl Crow is now performing, changing the lyrics to one of her famous pop songs to "A Change will do us good."

5:45 p.m. I-25 has closed between I-70 and 6th Ave. It will stay closed until sometime after 9 p.m.

5:40 p.m. Colorado Obama campaign director Ray Rivera asks the crowd to text messages for the candidate to 62262. A electronic map on video screens tracks where the messages come from by region. Each message must be proceeded by "DNC." ie: DNC I love Obama.

5:35 p.m. John Legend and the Agape Choir are now leading the crowd in a song with the lyrics "Yes we can."

5:15 p.m. Most of the rest of this hour is scheduled to be filled by performances by John Legend and the Agape Choir and Sheryl Crow.

5:10 p.m. Martin Luther King III is wrapping up the tribute to his father after his sister Bernice also delivered remarks. The brother said "in honor of the legacies of my father and of Bobby Kennedy, let us give our nation a leader who has heard this clarion call and will help us achieve the change we still need: Barack Obama."

4:57 p.m. The speaking schedule is ahead of schedule. Howard Dean, DNC Chairman spoke about 10 minutes before he was set to come on stage at 5 p.m. There appears to be music filler now playing until the tribute to MLK starts. That features the slain civil rights leader's eldest son.

4:55 p.m. Free Food! Watch Harry Smith on the CBS Early Show Friday morning. He'll be broadcasting from Racine's restaurant. The Early Show will buy the first 50 breakfasts as a thank you for arriving at 4:30 a.m.

4:36 p.m. Gov. Bill Ritter, Rep. Ed Perlmuter, Rep. John Salazar, Rep. Diana DeGette address the delegates and the crowd. Salazar says American needs a president who understands how to keep food on people's tables. DeGette says we need to elect Barack Obama, protect a woman's right to choose and end the war in Iraq and not keep talking about it.

4:18 p.m. From CBS forecaster Ed Greene: At 6 p.m. the temperature should be about 80 degrees. By 8 p.m. it will have dropped to the low 70s.

4:15 p.m. Elbra Wedgeworth, president of the DNC Host Committee, addressess delegates and the crowd. She tells them she hopes everyone enjoyed their visit to the "New West" and invites them to come again. She then talks about Denver's history of electing mayors who can "deliver the change we need." She hopes the nation will do the same by electing Barack Obama.

4:08 p.m. U.S. gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson leads the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by actress Jennifer Hudson singing the National Anthem.

4:07 p.m. Smoke from wildfires in Colorado's northwest high country is causing hazy conditions in the Denver metro area this afternoon. The visibility is very poor.

4:04 p.m. U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-House Speaker, calls the fourth session of the convention to order. She welcomes the Obama supporters and then Rabbi David Saperstein delivers the Invocation. 

3:58 p.m. Obama campaign Colorado director Ray Rivera takes the podium and says he's seen the grassroot efforts first hand. He talks about voter registration efforts during the event.

3:53 p.m. Rick Sallinger: Hundreds of protesters on various issues just reaching Invesco. An officer tells Sallinger they are pro-marijuana and anti-war protesters. No more than 400.

3:50 p.m. The in-house video feed just showed the regular video to tell Broncos fans during football games how to leave the stadium in an orderly fashion. It had an NFL logo in the lower right corner.

3:45 p.m. Rick Sallinger reports that Colfax is now closed near Invesco Field as a mass of humanity moves toward the stadium. Reportedly from Federal to Kalamath.

3:40 p.m. Hundreds of Barack Obama supporters with community credentials are making phone calls from inside Invesco to other supporters encouraging them to watch the speech. There are about 140 phones. Supporters are given a call sheet with 10 names and numbers. If they make they calls they are entered into a raffle. One-hundred names will be drawn. Those people will be able to watch the speech from the field/floor.

3:10 p.m. Rick Sallinger, CBS4 reporter, writes: Enormous lines to get in. Parking costs $20-80, guy selling "cold Obama water."

2:20 p.m. The Media Filing Center is now full to capacity and many journalists are walking in hoping for somewhere to plug in, write and transmit. They appear to be out of luck and frustrated. After being allowed on the field earlier with our normal credential, there is now word about needing a blue dot to get field access. Will have to go check that out.

We hope to bring video interviews to the site soon of people arriving at the stadium and what they hope to hear from Obama. One woman from Louisville told CBS4 photographer Tom Meyers she was excited about the speech and started crying when talking about what Obama might be able to do for the country.

2:15 p.m. Vic Lombardi again played basketball with Barack Obama at the Denver Athletic Club on Thursday, less than 12 hours before his historic Democratic presidential nomination acceptance speech. Obama and Lombardi played hoops in late May together at the club. This time, Obama sat on the bench and watched. Check out the picture in the Dems Take Over Denver slideshow in the right column half way down this page or click here to read about their first game together in May.

1:45 p.m. People waiting to get into Invesco Field at Mile High say it's taken as little as five minutes to get into the stadium. One visitor who just returned from the Olympics in Beijing says it took her 10 minutes compared to an hour during the summer games. Another Barack Obama supporter says it took him :30 minutes. Check out our slideshow of images from today at Invesco, including pics of people walking in.

1:25 p.m. I've finally found Internet access and have set up shop in the Media Filing Center in the lower level of Invesco Field. Should be able to check back in often from here while we walk around and find people to talk with. After having our transport van sniffed by bomb dogs, clearing individual security for media right outside the stadium at 12:15 p.m. was fairly easy.

The first thing we heard when walking on to the Invesco Field stadium floor was the music of Sheryl Crow as she performed a sound check. CBS4 anchor Brooke Wagner was enjoying the sounds, doing a little jig in her chair in between live hits for CBS4 News at Noon.

The gates should now be open and we're heading out to talk with Coloradans about being selected to see the speech in person. Also saw phone banks where they'll presumably make phone calls from. Check back soon.

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