They say first impressions are everything, but my first impression of Barack Obama’s speech last night wasn’t much. I was slightly dismayed at how let down I was by “the once-in-a-generation experience.” Covering the convention should have given me the ultimate insight into Obamamania. For most of the time, I was convinced that, aside from a few moments (the Roll Call vote, Bill’s speech, and hearing Obama utter the words “I accept your nomination for president”), it would all be a waste.

But at an afterparty last night, something pulled my head out of the journalistic, observational fog. I had spent the week trapped in a political convention bubble, enveloped by a non-stop barrage of punditry. At the “Yes We Can” Celebration party thrown by Perennial, the same management company behind the epic Wyclef Jean event earlier in the week, I watched a set by the Black Eyed Peas, who managed to penetrate my persistent cynicism with their raw energy and gusto.

Toward the end of the evening, I had gotten separated from the rest of the group, and decided to walk outside to see if there were any interesting conversations to be had. I struck up one with two African-American men, who didn’t know each other, but both of whom, by coincidence, were from Los Angeles. As we chatted, a Kenyan man wearing a dapper suit approached looking for a light and joined in on our chat. He had flown all the way from Kenya just to see Obama’s acceptance speech. His tribe in Kenya neighbors that of Obama’s father.

“I am here, because this is our presidency,” he said. Looking all of us in the eye, he clarified that he meant not just black people, and not just Kenya, but the world. He went on an impassioned diatribe, imbued with gravitas by his continental African accent. He finished with a gracious, low-sweeping bow, shaking each of our hands, indebted to us simply by virtue of our nationality.

It hit me, then, as I watched the interplay between our Kenyan friend and the two Angelenos. Forget that Obama delivered a carefully crafted speech with emotional peaks and valleys that addressed all of the major Republican criticisms facing him heading into the general election. Forget that he attempted to lace his graceful oratory with more specific policy points—with varying degrees of success. Forget the rabidly cultish delegate fan-base, who you would inevitably hear reciting the talking points that were drilled into skulls incessantly throughout the convention weekend, endlessly chattering, “We can’t afford four more years of the same failed Bush policy.”

And forget the claims that “hope” and “change” are hollow slogans concocted by the Obama campaign. Forget the claims that these words serve as intentionally ambiguous blank slates, allowing for Americans to project all of their own dreams of this country on to one man. And forget that that man cannot possibly be Santa Claus, dropping solutions down the chimneys of a disenfranchised, disaffected America on November 5th.

Standing there, as a white man among two African-Americans and one African, I finally understood how seeing someone with their skin color on the Presidential political stage means—how it outstrips all the historical baggage. I understood the hope that their world would forever be changed by seeing Barack Obama ascend to the Presidency of the United States. I have heard all of these arguments many times before. But to witness it firsthand, in the faces of three complete strangers brought together by happenstance on the final night of the convention week, brought a moment of clarity I will never forget.

The event instantly washed away the weeks and months of punditry poison that shackled my brain with unreasonable expectations and meaningless goals of political expediency for Obama’s speech. The poison had almost made it impossible to process Obama’s words, and to fully grasp the symbolic nature of his candidacy.

I had also my over-hyped expectations to blame: I found out months ago that I would be coming to the DNC. I had been thinking about witnessing this historical moment for so long, crafting the experience in my head. It’s like when you are so excited for a movie that you construct the most satisfactory version possible in your head that when it doesn’t play out, even a great movie can fall flat.

Barack Obama is just a man. It’s easy to forget this watching him on television or 80-foot tall screens. But when you see him in person, even from 40 feet away, you are reminded that he is not a deity. When someone is portrayed as so transcendent, as to be larger than life, he’s at an immediate disadvantage in person just by being human.

After I got home at about 2:30 a.m last night, I immediately watched the speech again, start to finish. The difference between frantically photographing the speech from the floor, trying to gauge 12 different aspects at once, while trying to pay attention to the speech itself, and watching the entire thing on a couch, as if you are three feet from the man, was astounding.

One would think it would be the opposite: the event would be more visceral on the floor, being in the middle of everything, as one of the 80,000 eyes (or 0.2% of the 38 million in total) watching it all unfold. But journalistic detachment became my metaphor for the entire week—the human element became lost.

It was a simple exchange between three people that convinced me, without question, that one singular experience in a parking lot at 1 a.m. conveys a greater understanding of what is going on in our country, than any blow-by-blow analysis of the speech could offer.

As a white person, I feel that no candidate could come through on every campaign promise, not even Obama, who eloquently promises lofty social change. This list of promises for change in legislation and societal norms isn’t realistically achievable in four years: Affordable health care and college education for everyone, tax cuts for 95% of the population, evaporated dependence on foreign oil within 10 years, and more involved—yet less bloated—government.

Usually it is enough for me if the ideals behind those promises are in line with my own. For other Obama supporters (many of them white), I learned this weekend that this was their core reason for supporting him as well.

For everyone else not in White America, however, change and hope take on meanings beyond moving past George W. Bush, and all that his name symbolizes policy-wise. It is not simply about black, white, and brown unity, either.

After I related my experience at the club to her, fellow P+P’er Sharifa Johka pointed out to me that any person of any color around the world sees Obama’s background, his looks, and his name, and in his ascent, feels that anything is now possible within their own lives.

One of my new friends from outside the party explained to me how Africans from Africa often look down on African-Americans as having eschewed their true heritage in favor of assimilation. He told me that beyond bridging the white and black cultural divide, to have a Kenyan express such solidarity was a transcontinental bridge that moved him deeply.

I was, in turn, compelled to tell him that I had just underwent one of the most profound experiences of my life, seeing the raw significance of Obama’s candidacy in their eyes, and being included in the circle. I told him that I understood one small piece of his culture  His struggle. I saw the difference between what President Obama would mean to me, and what it would mean to him.

I got it.

He looked at me without blinking. “Now, you’re on the inside,” he said.

The entire week, I thought I was finally covering politics from within. Little did I know I wouldn’t actually be there until the final hour of the final night.

The Midwest is ground zero for the election. It’s rural, urban, blue collar, moderate, unionized, independent…and will make the difference between winning and losing.

Whichever candidate wins Ohio is going to win the election. It’s true this year and it’s been true every election since 1896 (with one exception in 1944).

Much is made of Obama’s ability to get the vote out, and Ohio is no different.

“Obama has 300 people on the ground, John Kerry had 16,” said Sally Powless an Ohio delegate from Toledo and a member of AFSCME. ”Kerry went in 17 counties and Barack is going to go after all of them. You can’t just go in urban areas, you have to get support everywhere.”

Some of the loudest applause at the Democratic convention came with rhetoric tailored to the middle class. Other lines that targeted Exxon-Mobil or companies that ship jobs overseas brought delegations to their feet.

So when Obama says he will cut taxes for 95 percent of working families, it’s a reaction to the lay of the land in places like Ohio.

“So many plants have been closed down,” said Jane Ragland, another Ohio delegate from rural Chillicothe about 46 miles south of Columbus. ”We in rural areas have the manpower and we’re in need of employment.”

So when Obama spoke of his heroes like the “woman [who] talk[s] about the difficulties of starting her own business, I think about my grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle-management, despite years of being passed over for promotions because she was a woman,” he’s relating to the personal experiences of blue collar and women voters.

The personal touch is working.

“I know how he feels,” Ragland said. “I know the stumbling blocks he had before he got to be where he’s at. If he can raise above the odds, we all can. That’s what he has to get across.”

And that message is resonating in Iowa, Gov. Chet Culver said in an interview.

“He’s just got to do what he’s been doing across the county and spread his message,” he said. “It’s a historic moment to see the torch passed to the next generation of American leaders,” and Iowans are looking forward to it.

Photographs by Chris Nelson

Click on photo gallery for larger images

Our P+P team is inside Invesco Field.

They are sending text messages and emails and updates.

Here’s a sampling:

Chris Nelson, 5:10:

Coachella, Lollapalooza.. anything you’ve been to where humans do their best cattle impersonation does not compare to the sight of the line to get in right now.

Brooke-Sidney Gavins, 5:16 p.m.:

Observation:

Udall likes the Bill Clinton thumbs up.

Kaine speaking Spanish…Latino Vote??

Kaine’s move the mountain reminded Torey of the little engine that could

Bill Richardson should lose the beard

Kaine’s speech made me excited Obama chose Biden

Chris Nelson, 5: 19:

P.S. Bill Richardson, aka The Hamburglar is still a tool, even with 40,000 people watching him.

Brooke-Sidney, 5:22 p.m:

Richardson’s speech is really strong on int’l relations. Is he trying out for the secretary of state spot?

Chris Nelson, 5:23

This is insane. The man is a rock star. Doesn’t matter how much the delegates or civilians here espouse specific policies, this has the exact vibe of a show.

Brooke-Sidney, 5:32 p.m.

Somehow Stevie Wonder is always moving and inspiring … Perfect match for Dems msg .. Yes u can.

Max Zimbert, 6:03 p.m.

Is this the first wave in convention history?

Max Zimbert, 6:08 p.m.

Michael Mcdonald????

What’s that line from 40 year old virgin when paul rudd walks in threatening to kill everyone unless the change the michael mcdonald dvd??

with progressives like obama, dean and pelosi as leaders, you’d think we would have such stiff acts. Michael mcdonald YUCK

But I guess its better than whatever toothless bumpkin anthems the GOP will offer in MN

Brooke-Sidney, 6:41 p.m.

The crowd loved the Republican’s testimony who is now voting for Obama.

Clearly, Obama campaign is highlighting stories from swing states – OH, MI, FL, NC, NM and IN

Max Zimbert, 6:41 p.m.:

Just was instructed: volunteers will pass out signs. And we are not to hold them up until we are told.

Brooke-Sidney, 6:50 p.m.:

There is a lot of anticipation…. You can feel it in the air. Everyone’s on bated breath waiting to catch a glimpse of obama or michelle

Chris Nelson, 7:12 p.m.:

Elvis is in the building.

Tricia Romano to Chris Nelson, 7:30 p.m.:

His speech is boring.

Chris Nelson, 7:38 p.m.:

Yep, taking no risks.

Tricia, 7:39 p.m.:

I wish he could be delivering Bill Clinton’s speech.

Chris, 7:42 p.m.:

He’s preaching to the choir 100%

Tricia, 7:42 p.m.:

I know, but he’s gotta preach to the undecided.

Chris, 7:42 p.m.:

The parents bit was good, biggest applause yet. Weaksauce on the terrorist bit.

Chris, 7:43 p.m.:

People eat up these clever little one liners. Theme of the convention, “Sloganville.” Taking a page from Rove’s playbook.

Chris, 7:44 p.m.:

He just stole a line from a speech in the movie American President with Michael Douglas.

Tricia, 7:45 p.m.:

Noooooooo.

Chris, 7:47 p.m.:

He’s building now.

Tricia, 8:01 p.m.

Nice AK 47 jab, but he won’t says the words, “gay marriage is good.”

Tricia, 8:02 p..m.:

That got better but what is this song? is it COUNTRY????

Chris 8:03 p.m.

Gotta say… really weak overall. Such a far cry from strong applause going on right now… I’m sure 4th and long in the playoffs for the Broncos is 10 times louder.

Chris, 8:05 p.m.:

WORST COUNTRY SONG EVER PLAYING. And a Delegate just farted.

Max writes in:

“We made it thru security. Only diff from airport is you can being water if you take a sip and carry w u thru metal detector.”

Almost there!

Then a few minutes later, Brooke-Sidney texts us this:

“We’re IN!”

Like many other people, our fearless reporters, Brooke-Sidney, Max Zimbert, and Torey Van Oot are waiting in line at Invesco Field. We just got a text from Max that said:

We arrived in line at  1:10. It’s about a 1.5 to two-mile long line. About 15 minutes later, we merge with another line near Seventh and Walnut, and some people start complaining.

Security officer responds: “There’ll be no negativity in my line. It’s a day of positive change. Positivity all around.”

More pix after the jump!

Another view!

Well, at least they had entertainment. This is the Golden Cowboy.

Warning: Some images of the protest gallery feature graphic abortion images

Click on the photo gallery for larger size images.

Quick and to the point, Sir Charles catches up with P+P outside the Pepsi Center to explain why he’s here and why this election is important.

What rift? President Bill Clinton’s address was so hot it melted any frost that existed in the Democratic Party. It was so scorching it reminded hot-blooded Democrats of the commonality of purpose. The GOP wants a “reward…for the last eight years by giving them four more. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Those in the Pepsi Center tasted victory in November; it would take an Ice Age to prevent Sen. Barack Obama from winning the White House. Clinton’s words eviscerated any sense of buyer’s remorse: If the Clintons can finally admit Obama is ready— well, the Party is just getting ready to party. The big movers and shakers on the floor agreed:

“I don’t think there’s any doubt or lingering fears that he’s not committed to see Barack Obama elected,” Rep. John Lewis, (D-GA) said in an interview. “He did what he had to do.” Rep. Lewis’ word is as good as any given his long relationship with the Clintons and February endorsement of Obama.

Unity came at such a premium—the Roll Call—that I and many around me in the nosebleeds figured Hillary would let delegates have their catharsis and do as they please.

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said in an interview that some in his delegation “were upset they didn’t get a chance to vote,” but “the time for grieving is over. All of us now want to do the next step and make Nov. 4 the day where we make history again by electing the first African American nominee.”

“She did the right thing like she always does,” Sen. Chuck Schumer told me after Hillary’s dramatic moment during the Roll Call. “And it’s going to help us win.”

“The only thing that troubles me a little bit is that a lot of people who were for Hillary were pressured to vote for Obama,” said Dolores Huerta, the delegate from California who officially put Hillary’s name in nomination.

Apollo Pazell, an 18-year-old delegate from Utah seconded the nomination, and was “satisfied with the roll call,” and like Huerta, will support Obama in November.

If the Roll Call was solidifying, Bill Clinton’s speech took it to the top of the Rockies.

“President Clinton once again unified this party,” Sen. Bob Menendez said. Clinton “made a compelling case for Barack Obama on the substance, on the merits, recalled history— the difference years between Clinton years and republican years and wrapped Barack Obama in the perfect of setting of why change can be real.”

Remember Mittmentum? Those were the days…

Many Democrats have had nightmares that the Obama-Clinton tug’o'war was going to upstage Sen. Joe Biden’s debut at the DNC. Wrong. Biden’s speech capped off the day when the Democratic convention finally lived up to the hype and its protagonists replaced Tracy Flick behavior with Saved by the Bell camaraderie.

Honor defines you and loyalty redeems you, his mother taught him. That’s what you want to hear from your running mate where the relationship is what Lyndon Johnson told Hubert Humphrey, a “marriage with no chance of divorce.”

Beau Biden, the senator’s son, provided a tear jerker introduction. Joe Biden was presented as a family man on a heroic level. His first wife and one of his four children were killed in an auto accident. Two other children were hospitalized. Joe Biden committed to taking the four hour train ride home to Wilmington to be with the children.

The vice presidential nomination was Joe Biden’s just desserts. He overcame the loss of wife and daughter, a terrible stutter as a kid on the playground, and economic hardship growing up in Pennsylvania. He’d been a senator since he was 30, reelected six times, and ran for president once before in 1988.

The vice presidential nominee is telling of how the presidential nominee is to govern. Joe Biden is as tough, as he is honest, as he is experienced. He called genocide advocate and Serbian dictator Slobodan Milošević a war criminal to his face, whereas President Bush takes satisfaction is showcasing Saddam Hussein’s pistol.

Some bloggers said two senators on a ticket would be too much talk. Senators are more apt to talk than to do. An examination of Biden’s character and legislative record proves that he is one senator who can talk and do, sponsoring pivotal legislation like the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and the Violence Against Women Act.

Merit is something close to Biden’s heart, Obama’s too. They know what’s it’s like to earn and more importantly, how earning generates esteem and respect. Defining the American dream as a meritocracy where “if you try hard enough” you can make it, as Biden said, will resonate with Democrats, Republicans and independents.

Americans are “asking questions so ordinary and profound,” a seemingly contradictory notion that makes sense considering 80 percent of Americans think the nation is on the wrong track and and the U.S. is more than $9.6 trillion in debt. When things seem so wrong in the nation and in the Democratic Party, Joe Biden reminded us the election is about who can best change the direction of America.

“Remember when the world used to trust us?” Biden asked. “When they looked to us for leadership? With Barack Obama as our president, they’ll look to us again, they’ll trust us again, and we’ll be able to lead again.”

On the eve of the democratic roll call event, I could feel the electricity and tension in the air as I walked down the streets of downtown Denver. Although Sen. Obama was expected to receive the majority vote and formal nomination for the Democratic presidential ticket, there existed the possibility that Hillary Clinton could somehow snatch the nomination from him.

And there were rumors of protests and riots by angry Hillary supporters, vets against the war and other groups outraged with the Bush Administration.

So I wasn’t surprised to find myself in the middle of a standoff between the Denver police and a group of bikers. Although I am not certain how the protest began, but when I arrived the police had already set-up a barricade to prevent at least 100 bikers from continuing their ride down Wazee Street near 16th street mall.

I stopped David, a biker in the protest, and asked him to explain the situation:

“We wanted to bike through. We are not bothering anybody. We just wanted to bike through the city. It’s our city. We pay taxes. We aren’t contributing to the air pollution. We are even increasing our fitness.”

The DNC in Denver has earned its reputation as the greenest and most environmentally friendly convention ever. So it was surprising that bikers weren’t allowed easy access to the city streets during the convention. The Freewheelin’ organization even provided free bike rentals to DNC attendees to reduce the amount of driving and air pollution during the convention. The event attracted a lot of resident bikers, many of whom had traded their cars for bikes for environmentally conscious reasons.

“I gave up a 2007 Dodge Magnum that got 12 miles to the gallon for this bike to be a conscious citizen of this planet,” said David. “It’s time for all of us to get the tenacity to do what is right. That is why I am voting for Obama.”

When the protest appeared to settle down, one angry participant walked up to the police and spit at them. He was then pushed to the ground, hit with batons, sprayed with mace, handcuffed and escorted off by the police. And the crowd and protesters chanted: “The world is watching.”

See the events unfold here.

Interview: Brooke-Sidney Gavins
Multimedia Producer: Sharifa Johka
Video editing & Photography: Brooke-Sidney Gavins

Obama crashed his own Party at the Pepsi Center tonight, sending the crowd into a frenzy after an already rousing evening of speeches from Bill Clinton and veep pick Joe Biden. Our very own Max Zimbert CrackBerried his reaction from the arena:

“Obama in the flesh is a new energy policy for the Pepsi Center. It will take a divine act of intervention for the Dems to lose after an almighty day like today. Something happened today, and hopefully the negativity that’s sure to come out of Minnesota wont ruin the Democratic love train.

I’m loving Obama’s talk of change being bottom up — Hill and jmcc didn’t get that.”

Photo by Chris Nelson.

P+P reporter Max Zimbert crackberried this to me from the floor:

It was hairy for a while with the only highlights being Arkansas and New Hampshire unanimous delegations. California passed, which is pathetic.

New Mexico started the snowball of energy by yielding to Illinois who had previously passed. At New Mexico’s yield, Illinois resumed the floor and Daley quickly yielded to New York, effectively bringing the house down.

Hillary walks in and flashbulbs set the building in white and almost holy light. Brief remarks by New York delegation speaker and then Hillary, in powerful words asks to suspend the roll call vote.  WIth New York delegates totaling 282, and with Illinois and New Mexico unanimously going to Obama, the place explodes.

Pelosi asks for a “second” and the building erupts again. She asks for a “yay” and the entire building responds with one voice. She then laughingly says “two-thirds of the delegates say ‘yay’” and the place is on fire.

Band stikes up “Love Train”

Most energetic high ever experienced in my life. Everyone around can’t shut up about how exciting this was.

Contrast this with tips to P+P from about the official lunch where Hillary released her delegates, where she said “I’m not saying you vote for Obama, I’m not saying you should vote for me, I want you to vote for whoever is in your heart.”  Upon releasing her delegates, there were reportedly overwhelming booes, mixed with “Hillary” chants.

The outward appearance is what matters for the country, but either Clinton’s ego still gets the best of her behind closed doors, or she had one hell of a suprise planned for the roll call and wanted to keep people on their toes.

SITV’s Wendy Carrillo interviews Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

On the 88th anniversary of women’s suffrage, P+P caught up with former National Co-Chair of Clinton campaign L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to ask him what Clinton’s campaign and the 18 million cracks it left in the ceiling meant for him and his three daughters.

“I think both candidates represent a lot to my girls. They represent the idea that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can make it. Whether a young girl, or a young person of color, or whatever you race, your nationality, your sex, your orientation, your religion, I mean, this is a country where we’re always breaking barriers and breaking with the past.”

Amen.

In keeping with our running conversation about what Obama needs to do to woo Latino voters, I asked the mayor his thoughts on how to translate the rapidly growing voter bloc’s steadfast support of Clinton’s primary campaign into a win for Democrats in the November. His response reminded us of Clef’s advice for the nominee earlier this week.

“Wherever I went on behalf of Hillary Clinton, her support among Latinos had everything to do with that they knew her. It was a vote for Hillary Clinton, not a vote against Barack Obama, and I can tell you that almost immediately after the primary, in three different national polls, Barack Obama enjoys a 30-point margin of victory over John McCain. Latinos are going to support [Obama] in large numbers and if they support him at 70 percent as I fully expect they will, he’s going to be the next president of the United States.”