Reporter's Notebook

NEAL P. GOSWAMI
Staff Writer
DENVER, Colo. – Democratic Vermont Rep. Peter Welch, attending his first national convention in an official capacity, said the Democratic Party is hitting the bulls’ eye with its quadrennial gathering.

“I think that they’re hitting all of the right notes,” Welch said in an interview Thursday. “What’s impressed me is how well executed it’s been. It’s on time and its on message.”

Welch said he’s been to two other conventions, first in 1968 looking on from the outside, and again in 2004, when he watched Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry accept the Party’s nomination.

But, as a member of Congress, elected in 2006, Welch is now a super delegate, and able to attend the convention daily, and attend various other functions throughout the week.

Welch said he isn’t receiving the same treatment as more tenured members of Congress, though. Some elected officials are being chauffeured around in luxurious hybrid vehicles – but not Welch.

“I’ve been walking. I need the exercise anyway,” he said.

Nevertheless, Welch said he’s happy to be a witness to history. So far, the most moving moment for Welch was the appearance of Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, the patriarch of American’s most famous political family. Kennedy, who is battling a brain tumor, is perhaps attending his final convention.

Kennedy’s colleague, Sen. Kerry, delivered the “most durable speech,” though, according to Welch.

“He was direct and blunt in his criticism of McCain, but he did it without being harsh,” Welch said.

And The Clintons, both Hillary and Bill, Welch said, delivered stirring speeches – leaving little doubt of where they stand.

“The Clintons delivered. They were clear and explicit and forceful. They support Barack Obama,” he said.

Overall, the convention has been a boost for the Democratic Party, and cannot compare with his previous experiences at a national convention.

“You can’t compare ‘68. That was a riot. That was a four-day riot,” Welch said. “The difference between this and ‘68 is we have unity now. We had division then.”

Posted by Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

DENVER, Colo. – Vermont’s delegation to the Democratic National Convention was planning to vote unanimously for Barack Obama, but never got the chance.

Obama became the first African American nominated for president by a major party Wednesday. A roll call vote began in the Pepsi Center, but was cut short when Sen. Hillary Clinton made a motion to make Obama the nominee by acclamation.

Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said Vermont’s small delegation met earlier in the day Wednesday and had agreed – including Clinton delegates – to unanimously vote for Obama. Clinton had already released her delegates.

-- Neal P. Goswami

Posted by Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at the Pepsi Center, to thunderous applause, after his Vice Presidential pick, Sen. Joe Biden, delivered a speech to a frenzied crowd Wednesday night.

"I just wanted to come out here for a little something to say," he said. "I want everyone to now understand why I am so proud to have ... the whole Biden family on this journey to take America back."

Obama went on to praise the speech his wife delivered on Monday, the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

"I think Michelle Obama kicked it off pretty well, don't you think?" Obama said.

He also praised Sen. Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton for their speeches, as an increasingly united Democratic Party screamed endlessly.

"If I'm not mistaken, Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night. And just in case you were wondering, I think President Bill Clinton reminded us what it's like to have a president who actually puts people first. Thank you President Clinton," Obama said.

Obama will deliver his acceptance speech Thursday night at Invesco field in front of 75,000 supporters.

Posted by Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

NEAL P. GOSWAMI
Staff Writer
DENVER, Colo. – Democrats worried that former President Bill Clinton wouldn’t stand fully behind Barack Obama can rest easy.

Clinton delivered a rousing speech Wednesday supporting Obama, the Democratic nominee for president. Thousands of delegates cheered wildly as the former president sung Obama’s praises and asked supporters of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, to vote for Obama.

“Last night Hillary told us she is going to do everything she can to elect Barack Obama. That makes two of us,” Clinton said. “Actually, that makes 18 million of us.”

Hillary Clinton received more than 18 million votes in a bruising primary battle with Obama, but ended up short of the necessary number of delegates after the final primary in June. Many of her supporters refuse to back down, however, and are now threatening to vote for Obama’s new rival, Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Clinton acknowledged the tough, hard-fought campaign between his wife and Obama Wednesday, joking the “campaign created so much heat it increased global warming.” But he, like his wife just one night earlier, urged her supporters to vote for Obama.

“I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November,” he said, as the room full of thousands of delegates exploded with cheers.

Both Clintons have been criticized previously for failing to say that Obama was ready to assume the presidency. But on Wednesday, Clinton made his opinion known.

“Barack Obama is ready to lead American,” Clinton said. “Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States of America.”

After pledging his full support to Obama, Clinton launched into lengthy list of ways the Bush administration, and McCain, according to Clinton, have weakened America’s security. America is in trouble on two fronts, he said, with a weakened economy at home, and weakened leadership in the world.

By failing to focus on new energy sources and continuing to rely on foreign oil, engaging in the war in Iraq and stretching the military too thin, and failing to use diplomacy, the Republican policies have weakened America’s security, Clinton said.

After eight years as president, and endless work around the world since, Clinton said he was sure Obama should be the next president.

“The job of the next president is to rebuild the American Dream and restore America’s leadership in the world,” he said. “Barack Obama is the man for this job.”

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Continue reading "Hillary lines up with Obama" »

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Pols and celebs flock to hear Sen. Hillary Clinton's speech

Continue reading "VIPs at the DNC" »

Posted by Bennington Banner, Bennington, VT at 9:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hundreds of Hillary Clinton supporters took to the streets of Denver Tuesday in support of the former presidential candidate. Clinton, who received about 18 million votes during the primary season, will speak at the Pepsi Center tonight, and is expected to ask her throngs of supporters to shift their support -- and votes -- to Barack Obama.

Many of Clinton's supporters marched Tuesday as part of a group of former Clinton supporters who are now backing Obama's Republican rival, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Clinton is speaking on the 88th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

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