KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

DENVER (AP) -- Democrats opened their national convention on Monday, seeking peace in the family as they pursue victory in the fall for Barack Obama and his historic quest for the White House.

An appearance by the ailing, aging Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and a primetime speech by Obama's wife, Michelle, headlined the convention's first night.

In excerpts released in advance, the would-be first lady said she and her husband were raised with solid American values: "that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."

The convention's opening gavel fell with Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton still struggling to work out the choreography for the formal roll call of the states that will make him - a 47-year-old senator bidding to become the first black president - the party nominee.  Read more...
   
  
KYW's Hadas Kuznits reports from the Democratic National Convention in Denver that there is a lot of talk about unity  at the DNC, and Philadelphia's top Democrat  says his fellow party members will be able to practice what they preach.
     
Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter has been an outspoken supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton but was attending an Obama rally on Monday in Denver:

"I'm a big Obama supporter. Senator Clinton is a great person, she ran a great race. But those of us who are professionals in this business, we understand that sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't."

Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell says a lot of the DNC mettings will revolve around how to get diehard Clinton supporters (of which he has been one) enthusiastic enough to go to the polls in November:

"That's going to be the key. Can we get every Democrat back on line, supporting Obama?"

  
KYW's Mark Abrams reports that Rendell was interviewed early Monday morning by CBS's Harry Smith.

Rendell, who was one of Sen. Clinton's strongest supporters, says both he and she are prepared to get fully behind Barack Obama. Rendell says Clinton assured him she's ready to make that appeal to her pledged delegates during her convention speech on Tuesday night:

"I think Hillary's going to deliver a speech which is going to make it absolutely crystal clear what the stakes are ahead for the nation and that there isn't time to wait four years. I mean, some Clinton people say if Sen. Obama loses, Hillary can win in four years. For people without health insurance, Harry, there's no time to wait four years."

Rendell says Sen. Clinton is prepared to release her delegates and encourage them to get behind the Obama-Biden ticket.  He says it's not about egos, it's about issues:

"I know people are cynical about politicians. But we do believe in stuff. Hillary's fought for universal health care for all her life. The McCain plan is, respectfully, a joke. Sen. Obama has a real good plan to bring health care to every American."

Rendell says the Democrats have to go after the GOP's presumptive nominee and break down a few misconceptions about his record:

"We've got to pierce this veneer that John McCain is a moderate. John McCain is a wonderful man, but he's no moderate. He voted against equal pay for women."
   
The party's credentials committee has restored full voting rights to delegations from Florida and Michigan. Those two states were stripped of their voting rights earlier in the year for holding their primaries early in defiance of party rules.

Expanded AP Story

KYW's Larry Kane reports that how Obama handles the undercurrent of disconent among Hillary Clinton supporters may determine how he does in November.

This week's convention is the first big show. November 4th is ten weeks away.

The convention opens with Joe-mania -- as in Biden, but it's only a partly sunny forecast inside the Pepsi Center in Denver where some Clintonites are still fuming that Sen. Clinton was not even vetted for the VP nomination.

On the other side, Obama loyalists are concerned that the campaign gave too much to the Clintons -- two nights of prime time and a symbolic nomination for Hillary.

The ultimate tightrope walker, Obama arrives there on Wednesday. Beneath the bright lights and the balloons nestled in their nets, there is a look ahead to St. Paul -- a week from Monday -- where the Biden nomination may force Republican John McCain to go with an experienced hand, former Pennsylvania governor and Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge.

KYW's Hadas Kuznits reports that folks have flocked to Denver from all over the country. In fact, Philadelphia native Joanne Gildad-Borsico, who is on leave from University of Pennsylvania medical school, says she bought her flight to Denver before she even knew what she'll be doing here:

"My friend sent me her confirmation for volunteering. I accidentally purchased a flight ticket from Philadelphia to here, so I contacted everybody in Colorado and Pennsylvania, and asked them to come. I said, 'I have a flight, I have a place to stay, but I don't have an assignment, may I please volunteer?' "

Borsico got her volunteer assignment. She's just happy to soak up the atmosphere this week:

"We're making history, and the excitement of hearing Obama speak and Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden. So I'm just here to rock it. This is Woodstock for me."

Exhibitors have come from all over the country to set up shop at the Democratic National Convention. Some came from as far as Philadelphia.

As part of the DNC, there are hundreds of exhibitors. Nathan Raab, vice president of the Raab Collection in Philadelphia, was asked by the DNC to present a showing of historical documents:

"To create an exhibit of Democratic history, but also to put that history in a national context. So we have documents here from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln. Extending into the 20th century Democratic party, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy.  And everything is an original, obviously."

(Kuznits): "And you brought everything with you from Philadelphia?"

"Yep, I drove it out myself."

(Kuznits): "You drove it?"

"I drove it."

(Kuznits): "So you took the 26 hours from Philadelphia to Denver?"

"About 24."

Raab says convention-goers are most interested in the authenticity of his documents:

"The most common question I get is, 'So, where do you make your copies?' "

Raab tells people that real documents are expensive, so please don't touch them.

Meantime, a day after Barack Obama rolled out his vice presidential pick, one of the names on the short list for the Republican VP spot made a stop in Philadelphia.

KYW's Jim Melwert reports that Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty refuses to speculate on who will be number two on the Republican ticket this fall. 

He says his trip to Pennsylvania on Sunday was purely to campaign on behalf of Sen. John McCain, especially with an expected spike in the polls for the Democratic ticket this week: 

"There's always a convention bounce, and I think Barack Obama is going to get the bulk of the attention this coming week with the Democratic convention in Denver. We'll try to get our rebuttal in or a little balance as best we can."

Pawlenty says the timing of his stop in Philadelphia is coincidental and doesn't have anything to do with Sen. Biden's selection as vice presidential nominee.

It's likely the Republican nominee will be named on Friday, the day after the Democratic convention ends. 

Pawlenty says he's scheduled to be in Minnesota that day.

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