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Grades 4-6

The Democrats' Big Show

By Martha Pickerill/Denver

Excitement filled the Rocky Mountain air last week. Thousands flocked to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. They went to see Senator Barack Obama of Illinois become the Democratic Party's candidate for President of the United States.

Delegates represent their state or territory. About 5,000 delegates were at the convention to speak for their local Democrats. They were joined by reporters, important Democratic leaders and other visitors. They are ready to move on to the final phase of the fight for the White House.

SERIOUS BUSINESS

Some delegates dressed in wild red-white-and-blue outfits. They had fun, but they also had a serious job to do. The convention is where delegates officially vote for the party's nominee. State contests earlier in the year, called primaries and caucuses, had already decided that Obama would be the nominee. But that would not be official until he accepted the nomination at the convention.

The nomination is a historic one. Obama, 47, is the first African-American presidential nominee of a major political party. He is the son of a Kenyan father and a white mother from Kansas. Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. In Chicago, Illinois, he worked as a community organizer for poor neighborhoods. In 1996, he was elected a state senator in Illinois. He became a U.S. senator in 2004.

If elected, Obama promises he will bring meaningful change to public life and politics. Obama's choice for Vice President is a senator with 36 years of experience. Delaware's Joseph Biden became Obama's running mate on August 23. He has a rich background in guiding relations between the U.S. and other nations. "For decades, he has brought change to Washington, but Washington hasn't changed him," Obama said.

BATTLE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE

One highly charged moment at the convention was Senator Hillary Clinton's speech in support of Obama. Clinton and Obama had a tough battle during primary season. She wanted the Democratic nomination, and her supporters were disappointed that she narrowly lost. Clinton told the crowd that she had moved on. "Barack Obama is my candidate," she said. "And he must be our President."

Other key speakers included Biden; Obama's wife, Michelle; and Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. Kennedy, a leader in the Democratic Party for more than 40 years, is battling brain cancer.

Obama decided to make his acceptance speech at Invesco Field, a football stadium that holds more than 75,000 people. (The speech took place after TFK's press deadline. Go to timeforkids.com/election08 for the story.)

From September 1 to 4, the Republican Party holds its convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Read all about it in next week's issue!) After that, the final round of the battle for the White House begins. Senator John McCain and Obama will talk to voters about their plans to lead. Who will win this fight on Election Day, November 4? The candidate who can convince the most voters that he is fighting for them.

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