Thursday was the last and most exciting day of the convention. With a forecast of thunderstorms, organizers moved President Barack Obama’s speech indoors. In anticipation of the President’s arrival, helicopters started to circle the Time Warner Cable Arena and security became even tighter.
I interviewed many young delegates on the convention floor. They all said how excited they were to be in Charlotte, North Carolina, as delegates representing their home states. I even managed to interview Soledad O’Brien from CNN, who was busy reporting on the convention herself.
The speeches began late in the afternoon. Michigan’s former Governor Jennifer Granholm got everyone fired up, and she brought the crowd to its feet during her speech. The presence of Hollywood was felt when actresses Scarlett Johansson and Eva Longoria addressed the delegates. But everyday people also talked about their experiences with some of the issues at stake in this election, such as health care, education and immigration.
The excitement just kept building throughout the night. James Taylor, Mary J. Blige and the Foo Fighters performed, with the crowd clapping and singing along. Then, it was time to hear from Vice President Joe Biden. He officially accepted his party’s nomination for Vice President and spoke about the country’s economic recovery. He talked a great deal about the President’s character and how that impacts the decisions he makes.
The clapping and cheering was loudest when President Obama came out to speak. He encouraged Americans to move forward and to work together to help everyone achieve the American dream. His speech included a reminder to his daughters, Malia and Sasha, that they still had to go to school the next day. And, so did I.
It’s an amazing opportunity to attend a convention and even more incredible to report on it for TFK.