BLOG: Radford University student at DNC

11:20 a.m. Friday
Last night, being inside Invesco Field was completely indescribable. The stadium was filled to capacity and it was incredible to fill so much hope in the air. Our Governor, Tim Kaine addressed the crowd and the nation along with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and former Vice President Al Gore, who provided one of the best quotes of the night when he said that “he was for recycling, but John McCain using George Bush’s ideas was ridiculous!“

The night of course was capped off with Barack Obama’s speech. With the exception of camera shutters, I believe you could have heard a pin drop, which is amazing considering 75,000 people plus were in the stadium watching history unfold.

What was so wonderful was as we filed out of the stadium, everyone was full of hope and excitement and I truly believe that if they could have, they would have begun phone banking and knocking on doors as soon as they got out of Invesco Field.

As I watched everyone, I believe the hope I have in my heart was heightened by seeing the hope of everyone else.

10:15 a.m. Thursday
This post comes on the final day of the Convention and is written with bleary eyes. It has been non-stop since the plane landed here in Denver on Saturday.
Yesterday was nothing short of incredible. After the daily Virginia delegation breakfast, Terry McAuliffe had a book signing for the Virginia delegation then we had a lunch where Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts addressed the crowd. From there, I attended an event that Senator Clinton hosted to thank her supporters for their support but she urged all of us to now support Senator Obama for President.

I made my way down to the Pepsi Center after the busy afternoon and watched the roll call vote occur.

Virginia did not officially participate in the roll call floor on the floor because Senator Clinton made a motion on the floor to suspend the vote and for all ballots cast to be for Senator Obama. It was a historic yet emotional moment on the floor. Several people shed a few tears including Governor Tim Kaine.

After the excitement and emotions calmed down some, Senator Obama officially became the Democratic nominee for President!

Before Former President Clinton took the stage, I walked around the Pepsi Center to see if I could run into anyone I recognized. I was able to meet Luke Russert, the son of the late Tim Russert. We were able to talk for a few minutes including a talk about the Boston College (Luke is a Boston College graduate) and Virginia Tech football rivalry from last season.

After a few more minutes of walked around the very active and crowded Pepsi Center, I made my way back down the floor. However, I was stopped for a minute in the corridor. I was unsure why this was occurring because since I have delegate credentials I have been able to move around freely. Then my question was answer when Michelle Obama emerged from a side door.
Security here in the Mile High City is nothing short of incredible. I am sure with the Convention moving to the outdoor facility of Invesco Field, security will become even more intense.

I finally made my way through the hordes of people back to my seat on the floor just in time to see Former President Clinton’s speech. He still knows how to get Democrats fired up!

One quote from his speech that really struck me last night was when he said that America needs to have the power to set an example and not to be an example of power.

The capstone of the evening was when Joe Biden came out to address everyone in the Pepsi Center and the Nation when he accepted the nomination for Vice President. This was also a very emotional moment when his son Beau introduced Senator Biden. He came out and embraced his son with tears in his eyes. On the big screen in the Pepsi Center, a shot of Senator Biden’s mother was shown and she was looking down from her seat beaming with proud. I could not help but tear up thinking of my own mother who passed away this past spring. I knew she was also beaming with pride like Mother Biden.

After Senator Biden’s speech, the Pepsi Center became electrifying when Senator Obama unexpectedly showed up to show support of his running mate. The crowd roared with excitement.

After swimming through the sea of people, we made it back to our hotel where the Virginia delegation celebrated poolside and mingled around.

Today promises to be nothing short of exciting when we head to Invesco Field to hear Senator Obama formally accept the party’s nomination as our Presidential candidate.

7:15 p.m. Wednesday
Senator Barack Obama just officially secured the Democratic nomination for President. It was a very emotional time. Senator Clinton made a motion to suspend roll call voting and for all delegates to support Obama. It was so emotional in fact some tears were shed including some shed by Governor Kaine. The Democratic Party is united and ready to work to elect Obama the next President.

5:25 p.m. Wednesday
I am now on the floor of the Pepsi Center and the third day has begun!! There is so much excitement on the floor!!  The roll call vote will start shortly. More after that!!

3:40 p.m. Wednesday
This report comes from my Blackberry.  I am currently on my way to a Senator Clinton event and then on to the Pepsi Center where Roll Call vote will occur then former President Clinton and future Vice President Biden will address the crowd.  The excitement continues throughout Denver where the Campaign for Change will officially kick off tomorrow!!

12:35 p.m. Wednesday
Hello fellow Southwest Virginians!!

I am reporting after the second day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. For me, this was a day to soak in my surroundings. The Virginia Delegation was treated to breakfast again here in our hotel in wonderful Downtown Denver. This morning Senator Jim Webb spoke to us about his accomplishments thus far in his senatorial career and what else he plans to work on especially with President Barack Obama’s help.

Later on, fellow Southwest Virginian Steve Cochran, chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Party and I went to the Convention Center where all the caucus meetings are held. While I did not make it to any of the forums, however, I heard plenty of talk outside the Convention Center where there were seas of protesters.

Former Governor Warner held a reception before his Keynote Address at the Pepsi Center. The restaurant was overflowing and the management actually had to send many of the guests down the block to another building. This is just another example of how Mark Warner is popular whether in Virginia or Colorado!
From there, several of the delegates walked in the hot Colorado sun to the Pepsi Center so we could get a great seat to hear Warner address the Convention and the Nation.

The atmosphere at the Pepsi Center was full of anticipation of Senator Hillary Clinton’s speech.
While the media continues to discuss whether or not Clinton supporters are behind Obama, all I saw last night were thousands of Democrats unified for change in the White House.

While on the floor of the Pepsi Center, not only were my ears open to listen to rousing speeches but my eyes as well because you never know who you might see. Last night, I met actress Jane Seymour, and former DNC chairman and Hillary for President adviser Terry McAuliffe.

While most of you heard Governor Warner and Senator Clinton speak, another great speaker was Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer. It is great to hear speeches from people you don’t get to hear much from back home.

After slowly filing out of the Pepsi Center, we decided to walk back to the hotel as opposed to waiting for a half an hour or more for shuttles. So yesterday was a full day of urban hiking! When we arrived back to the hotel, Delegate Brian Moran hosted a party for the Virginia delegation. It has been great to meet fellow Democrats from across the Commonwealth.

Today, my schedule promises to be quite busy. Stay tuned for updates as tonight we hear from Former President Bill Clinton and the future Vice President Joe Biden.

9:15 a.m. Tuesday
And so it begins!

Yesterday morning, the Virginia Delegation gathered in the Crowne Plaza hotel in Downtown Denver to commence the Convention week. Former Governor Mark Warner addressed the group and ensured us that he will work with Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation that will benefit all Americans and not just a select few.

The opening gavel of the 2008 Democratic National Convention fell yesterday afternoon, kicking off an exciting evening on the floor of the Pepsi Center. For me, it was one of the most surreal experiences of my life.

The Virginia delegation is seated ten rows back from the podium and where I was sitting, two rows in front of me was Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and two rows behind me sat Governor Kaine with his family.

The evening began with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi addressing the crowd about public service and how this is the year for the Democratic Party to reclaim the White House. During last night’s speeches, there was a moving tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy, which was presented to the Pepsi Center crowd by the late President Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline. To everyone’s relief, the ailing Senator was able to attend this historic event. In his booming Boston accent, he told the group that with Barack Obama as President, health care will become available to everyone and all children across the country will receive a world class education.

The main speaker of the night however was Michelle Obama. She addressed the Pepsi Center and everyone watching at home that Barack Obama is the right man to be President because he has the same hopes and dreams for all children in America as he does for his two daughters. Mrs. Obama said that Senator Obama will not leave any group behind as he works toward unifying Washington and the country.

Last night, Governor Kaine held a special reception for the Virginia delegation while numerous other parties occurred all over Denver. Here in Denver, you never know who you are going to see. On Sunday, I was walking down the street and met political commentator James Carville and at last night’s party, former NBA player Charles Barkley made an appearance.

This week appears to have many surprises in store.
Please stay tuned as I will update this soon!