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(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
The Democratic National Convention kicked off this afternoon. It will be a week filled with rousing speeches and a call for party unity.
Democrats will work to make this mile-high party all about unity. But there are still quite a few who need convincing.
A new Gallup poll shows 28 percent of Hillary Clinton supporters will vote for John McCain instead of Barack Obama. For her part, Sen. Clinton is preaching reconciliation.
"Now I understand that the McCain campaign is running ads trying to divide us," she said. "I'm Hillary Clinton and I do not approve that message."
The convention is all about selling the Obama/Biden ticket to the country. It will also celebrate an historic first. Obama will become the first black presidential nominee of a major political party.
His wife, Michelle Obama, said, "It is humbling to be involved with, being a part of that next step in history. I think about how many people fought and died and struggled and sacrificed."
Michelle Obama will address the crowd tonight as the keynote speaker on opening night of this convention. Utahs' delegates will be watching from so-so-seating. She and her daughters toured the Pepsi Center this morning to get a lay of the land.
Comments in at least one past speech were panned by opponents. Tonight, Utah Democrats who've met Michelle Obama hope Americans get the chance to judge for themselves. Wayne Holland thinks it will be a good opportunity for her.
"Help educate the American people who are just starting to tune into this fall's election on what this family's about and what her husband's about. She's a natural at it. I think she'll do just fantastic," he said.
For the presumptive vice presidential nominee, unity is especially important.
A week ago, Sen. Joseph Biden was just one in a field of possible Barack Obama running mates. Now at the convention, he has the valuable opportunity to rebrand himself.
Utah Democrats gathered for breakfast; a chance to get on the same page for the day. They posed for a group picture; a show of unity. It is unity that, until the presumptive nominee and running mate became clear, the Democrats didn't have.
One Utah Democratic delegate even now calls himself a Hillary Clinton supporter. Jordan Apollo of Copperton plans to cast a symbolic roll call vote for Clinton later this week. But in the end, Utah Democrats all say they are united behind Obama and his presumptive running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden.
This week, the support is ratcheted up a notch to outright enthusiasm.
Another delegate from Utah, Helen Langen, said, "Voters are … getting more and more weary of over-messaged candidates. They just want someone who will tell the truth and be direct. I think that's what they will get from both of them, and I really feel that's exciting."
For both Obama and Biden, their speech on the convention floor is crucial. It's a chance to brand them with voters in a powerful way. The stage is set.
Convention CEO Rev. Leah Daughtry said, "We come together and declare with one voice, ‘Yes we can! Yes we can!'"
The people who are attending the convention know this is a significant event this week. It's a big enough deal that as the first African American presidential nominee, chances are Barack Obama's speech will be a memorable piece of American history.
Other highlights tonight: Obama's half-sister and brother-in-law will both speak. Caroline Kennedy will introduce a video tribute to Sen. Ted Kennedy. And musical guest John Legend will perform.
Barack Obama will make an appearance tonight, but not in person. He will appear on a giant video screen from Kansas City, where he spent the day campaigning. His main speech will be before a crowd of 70,000 at Invesco Stadium Thursday night.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
