I thought that I would bring everyone a little mid-convention cheer today.  For what it's worth, Time has just released poll results showing Obama doing very well in Western states:

Colorado: McCain 47, Obama 46
Pennsylvania: Obama 48, McCain 43
Nevada: Obama 49, McCain 44
New Mexico: Obama 53, McCain 40

http://thepage.time.com/2008/08/27/timec nn-battleground-polls/

Additionally, word is that Plouffe is quite optimistic about our chances in November:

Barack Obama's margin among independent swing-voting women and sporadically voting Democrats are two of the main metrics his campaign is closely monitoring, Obama's election manager, David Plouffe, said today.

Plouffe, speaking to reporters, editors and executives of the Atlantic Media company in a throwback conference room in downtown Denver, said that Obama's internal polling suggests that McCain runs a double-digit deficit with this group runs into the double digits in some swing states. "And that's before they know about his position on choice and that he's against equal pay," Plouffe said.

...

Other nuggets from Plouffe:

* If McCain doesn't win Colorado, "he has a 5% chance to win the election."

* He believes that they have "a slight edge" in Virginia.

...

* Said HIllary Clinton's speech "could not have gone better."

* Said the campaign "is really pleased" with where they are in Montana.

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/arch ives/2008/08/barack_mccains_margin_among _in.php

The following is from Wes Clark.

Submitted by Wes Clark on August 27, 2008 - 3:50pm
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/1627 2

I'm in Munich right now, but I can't tell you how ready I am to head to Denver and join my fellow Democrats.

The Democratic Party is ready to lead and address the many challenges ahead, and Barack Obama is the leader we need for our country and to help humanity meet today's global challenges.

We're a party loaded with talent. Like many of you, I've been thrilled by the speeches at the Democratic National Convention so far. Hillary Clinton was great last night. Her strength, her character, her call for unity. Her speech just proves once again that she is a great American and has many years of distinguished public service ahead of her.

And what an inspiration Ted Kennedy was, as was Nancy Pelosi, our Speaker of the House. Brian Schweitzer, the history-making Governor of Montana and Mark Warner, a business executive, distinguished former Governor and soon-to-be a remarkable U.S. Senator.

Tonight, I'm looking forward to catching the speeches of our honored former President Bill Clinton and our vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden. We are so fortunate that these two outstanding men are Democrats.

And then there's tomorrow. Our Party is so fortunate at this time in history to be nominating Barack Obama. After Michelle's incredibly warm and personal speech on Monday, any American can see the strength of character in their family. It's clear that when the Obamas become first family, they'll definitely bring change to America.

I can't wait to hear Senator Obama's words in person. He's warned us not to expect that he can duplicate the electricity from his memorable speech in 2004, but I think he's just being wise to play down expectations. He has proven to be a remarkable human being with incredible judgment, an outstanding sense of direction, and unmatched communication skills. I fully expect to be inspired, as I was in 2004.

I'm proud to be a Democrat, and I'm proud to ask you to pull together with me. It's time to help elect our candidates to every office. From mayors to governors, from state legislators to Congress. And especially to come together behind Barack Obama.

Barack is going to be the leader of a great team of Democrats in this election campaign. And he's going to become a great American President.

I believe he has the skills and resolve to strengthen America's security, rebuild America's economy, and restore Americans' faith in the future.

Our challenge is clear. We must win in November.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

I am so glad he posted this! There are some on his site who just could not let go, there are also some who have stated that they are voting for mccain and the repugs. I have battled some of them in the comments of my POSITIVE diaries about Hillary supporting Obama.

KUDOS to Wes Clark! Our Next Secretary Of State! (I Hope!)   :)

Convention conventional wisdom dictates a media saturated event that leads to a marked bump in the polls The attention drawn to them by the press on speeches and platforms and to real or imagined controversies are long cherised staples of the pageant. But all this is wrong in the modern age.  Yes, some attention will lead to some spike in the polls; but by and large, the individuals and the parties have settled as well delivered their message; so all this attention gathering leads not to much except to frustrate journalists.  This odd anachronistic institution does little to advance the passions of either party. The conventions do serve one objective, unite the base, and in this sense the Democratic Party meeting should be a success. The Republican party meeting will not have as much of an impact since MCCain going early to the well of negative campaigning accomplished as much. Interestingly enough, McCain's VP choice may present some problems, from chosing a pro-choicer to someone with little experience. Unlike Biden, I do not think there is a safe pick amomg the republicans. So I predict a plus 5 Obama advantage after the convention which will dissipate after the Republican convention. The net result is that we will be where we are and have been summer all summer long: a close race where republicans will be required to win just about every toss-up state to prevail, and the convention itself will remain a distant memory.    

I didn't vote for him in the primary.

I didn't advocate for him in the blogosphere until he won the nomination.

But damn it, I'm fired up.  I'm ready to go.  

And I'm proud to be an Obama supporter.  I'm proud to say you will hear no condemnation from me about Barack Obama between now and November.  I am proud to aspire to be Obama's biggest cheerleader on DailyKos.

I've already given three reasons for supporting Obama.

Well, here are three more:

One: Michelle Obama.  We need this woman to be our First Lady.  Brilliant, beautiful, accomplished, inspiring -- and dare I say it, as good a speaker as her husband, if not better.

The role of First Lady is a critical one, or at least it can be, with the right First Lady.  

This country's second First Lady, Abigail Adams, was credited with being a powerful influence on her husband and a voice for women in our young democracy:

I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.

Eleanor Roosevelt damn near ran her husband's presidency toward its end.  

Jackie Kennedy brought grace, sophistication, and French food to America.

And Hillary...Hillary showed this country that behind every powerful man, you better believe there's an equally powerful woman helping him along the way.

We need Michelle Obama, and her beautiful daughters, to bring vitality and joy back into the White House and across America.

Two: Hope and Change.  I have mocked Hope and Change.  Empty rhetoric, pretty words.

But I was wrong.

After two days of the Democratic Convention, I understand that now.  I'm becoming a believer.  Some speakers have been better than others, but many have sought to lay out the clear choice in this election: the past or the future.  

McCain offers the past.  War, dependence on foreign oil, tax breaks for the rich.  And fear.  Lots of fear.  Fear of the terrorists and the Russians and Iraq and Iran and black men and free women and gay marriage and science.  

But Obama offers us the future.  He offers us the chance to believe that we can do more and be better.  I don't know if Obama can deliver all of the dreams he has dared us to dream.  I'm a pessimist by nature.  But I'd rather hope for a brilliant future than fear we are forever trapped in a dismal past.

Three: Hillary Clinton.  I didn't need her speech last night.  I was one of her strongest supporters, but when Obama wrapped up the nomination, I jumped on board.

But still...

Last night, Hillary spoke to me.  She inspired me.  She made me laugh.  She made me cry.  

She spoke about the Seneca Falls Convention, where our long struggle began.  She quoted Harriet Tubman, one of my favorite women in history.  She urged us to keep going, keep fighting, keep standing up, keep trying.

Because one day, we're not just going to put cracks in the ceiling.  We're going to shatter that damned ceiling once and for all.

And President Obama is going to help us do it.

She articulated what she stands for, which is why I voted for her, and she said -- in the clearest and plainest of words -- that Obama shares her values.  My values.  And McCain does not.  No way.  No how.  No McCain.

Hillary made me proud, last night.  Proud to have supported her, and proud to be supporting Obama now.  But most importantly, she made me proud to be a Democrat.  And that's something I haven't felt in eight years.  

Because we are the party of the future.  We are the party that put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling.

We are the party of hope and change.

These are my three simple reasons.  I'm sure I'll think of more.

What are yours?

Cross-posted at Bly Space and DailyKos

It's been interesting to see how the Republican attack machine (aided and abetted by the media) has exploited this "Dems are divided" meme.

I'm curious as to what Democrats will do to exploit divisions between McCain and the Repubs.  Since when did McCain have any cred with the religious right?  How do we exploit differences in that party?

Ok, I had the opportunity yesterday to watch the convention speeches and Hillary on the webstream...unedited, uncensored, no talking heads. After Hillary's speech, the sense of dread that had consumed me the past few weeks was gone and I soundly went to sleep...finally at close to 6:00 in the morning.

I woke up thinking "we're a party again." I texted my brother and told him to get back to work. He had become less enthused about working for Obama since his run ins with PUMA. I told him Hillary has spoken, now go out and make Obama's case.

My excitement was one I hadn't felt since before the Iowa caucuses...but as soon as I went on my daily news skimming, I felt my excitement crash to the ground

In a speech to the American Legion today, Dick Cheney again defended the use of torture by the CIA.

You've got to admire the sheer scale of Cheney's hypocrisy.  For a draft dodger to stand up in front of a group of veterans, some of whom may have been tortured, and defend our country's use of "alternative interrogation techniques" takes some serious cojones.

Cheney said the CIA program involved "tough customers and and tough interrogations," but said the information obtained from prisoners prevented attacks and saved American lives.

Crossposted at Sandstorm.