DENVER—We've got more party pictures from the huge Obama nomination speech event at Invesco Field at Mile High. You can see just how big the stadium is. And behind the scenes in the hallways, Talk Show Row is set up for interviews. We also ran into Jesse Jackson, one-time Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, and reporters Andrea Mitchell and Dan Rather.

DENVER—The festive theater inside Invesco Field, where Sen. Barack Obama tonight will accept the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, was already rocking with excitement six hours before he took the stage. Two Franklin County, Va., delegates, Penny Blue, in the blue hat, and Ruby Penn, in the red hat, showed off their new purchases and told me what they expect to hear. Both said that they hope Obama makes note of the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, and Penny said he also has to "stir up his base."

Ruby said she expected Obama to out-orate King. "I expect him to do that and more." The rest of the photos show the field from the outside; your U.S. News team of Robert Schlesinger, Heather McGhee, Liz Halloran, and me; the Obama store; the Obama JumboTron; the placement of flags; and Fox reporter Major Garrett (a former U.S. News staffer) broadcasting from the floor of the stadium.

Wow, that was fast!

Sent: Thu Aug 28 16:44:02 2008
Subject: Secret Service correction

Paul,

Jim Mackin asked that I forward you this statement as a correction to your posting today at 4:04 p.m. about the Secret Service reportedly conducting a security sweep of Mr. Romney's family's home.

"The Secret Service did not conduct any advance, sweep or security assessment at the residence of former Governor Romney's sister. We have no knowledge of any security sweep taking place."

Thank you,
Emily

Close advisers to Sen. John McCain continue to drop hints today that the top three running mate possibilities are former foe Mitt Romney, Senate pal Joe Lieberman, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. However, they emphasize that only the closest McCain aides know the truth and that the speculation is based on who would bring more to the ticket—and hurt it the least. "I say it's 75 percent Mitt and 25 percent 'Joementum,'" says a former top McCain aide who still has the ear of the campaign. Another ally pointed to Pawlenty because he has close ties to conservatives, is from a state that McCain needs to win but is too close in the polls to Sen. Barack Obama, and represents a younger fresh face.

One signal that Romney topped the list was a tip to Whispers that U.S. Secret Service officials were visiting Romney's family members, presumably to conduct a security sweep and pick them up for a potential trip to Ohio where McCain plans to formally announce his pick.

And while pundits have speculated that McCain might pick a woman or political newcomer, such as former Hewlett Packard boss Carly Fiorina, former eBay chief Meg Whitman, or Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, none of those names were offered by McCain allies in E-mails to Whispers today.

Still, one insider says that the senator could play his maverick card and pop an unusual name. "Don't try to predict this one with any authority," says the source. Romney has made several appearances in Denver during the Democratic National Convention to rap Obama and praise McCain, and today Pawlenty will fill that role.

DENVER— Here is the latest sign — or signs — that it's finally over here in Denver for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. A day after supporters staged rallies around the town, we found a pile of signs dumped and scattered next to the Pepsi Center. But that doesn't mean she doesn't count because Sen. Barack Obama's chief strategist told us that she and Bill have done everything Obama's asked for.

DENVER—Top aides to Sen. Barack Obama said today that they have seen significant gains in voter support in key battleground states, but add that the election will still be close. "This is a close election. There's not a whole lot of play," says chief campaign strategist David Axelrod. "We have no illusions that this is going to be anything but close." Campaign Manager David Plouffe says, however, that the results will be better than in 2004 when President George Bush won because the campaign has registered more voters, has more voter enthusiasm and is facing a candidate in Sen. John McCain that isn't exciting the GOP base. "Enthusiasm matters," Axelrod says. Plouffe says that in 2004, the Bush team "maxed out" on getting supporters to the polls but that the Democrats have a lot of room for improvement. What's more, he says that in typically Republican states like Virginia, North Carolina, Montana, and Indiana, Obama is signing up thousands of voters. "We've added to our base," says Plouffe. He also says that Obama has done more to woo Hispanics in key Western states like New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado, all areas McCain is focused on. On other issues, the duo told a breakfast meeting that Ralph Nader will be an "obstacle" in the election; that the Clintons will campaign for Obama in the fall; that national polls don't matter as much as those in the 18 individual battleground states; and that while Obama won't rap McCain's age, he will hit "the age of his ideas" and his "backward looking."

DENVER—The Democratic National Committee has spent much of its time in Denver skewering Sen. John McCain (look for a snarky birthday ad when McCain turns 72 Friday). Well, as the convention nears an end here and the press gets ready to move to St. Paul, Minn. for the Republican National Convention, our pals at the DNC—Brad Woodhouse, Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza, and the rest of the team—have injected some humor, putting together "A Survival Kit for Reporters." Woodhouse and Buckwalter-Poza delivered mine to the U.S. News filing center at the Pepsi Center. "You guys are going to need this kind of help in St. Paul," says Woodhouse.

Inside the kit we found our very own press pass to the DNC's war room in St. Paul, decorated with that famous picture of McCain hugging President Bush. "DNC at the RNC," reads the pass. "Get the 4-1-1 at 411 Main, St. Paul, MN." There are also two packages of Tylenol Extra Strength, two packages of Tums, a $100,000 Grand and Payday candy bars, and a fancy button reading: "Ask me how many houses I own." And the pass came with a flash drive that includes all the opposition research on McCain from the DNC. The kit even came with a bribe: A promise of breakfast every day at DNC's "More of the Same" HQ in St. Paul to get reporters to attend daily news briefings. "No," noted the accompanying press release, "we're not too proud to lure you with food!"

DENVER–Oh, this Democratic Convention can be exhausting for the press and politicos, what with politics all day, parties all night, and schmoozing round the clock. And don't local Republicans know it -about the exhausting part, anyway. Just ask Hanna Warren, 76, a retired Denver lawyer. A Republican, Warren is hosting a Democratic friend from Idaho for the week and has been playing tour guide, Warren told our Liz Halloran at an Emily's List event that featured Hillary Clinton. "It's really exhausting pretending to be a Democrat," she said. For her part, Warren hasn't yet made up her mind who she'll vote for in November. "I know John McCain's positions pretty well, but not Obama's," she said. "I know I can go on his website, but I want to hear him say it." She knows it's old school, but that's how the attorney rolls. And it will take some more information from the man himself before this Republican becomes one of those "Obamacans" the Obama campaign has been touting.

DENVER—One of the little things that seems to be keeping the Democratic National Convention at Pepsi Center in Denver on time is the very large teleprompter and clock right above it. Stationed above the floor crowd at the back of the hall, the words are large enough for the speaker at the podium to see. For each speaker, the words scroll at the pace of the speaker, some fast and some slow. But right above it is a clock that starts with the number of minutes allotted to the speaker. It counts down as the speaker starts. But if the speaker goes over the limit, the clock reverses after hitting 00:00 and a little red light flashes. I've been able to hear speakers speed up after the clock starts ticking off just how much they've gone over their limit. But it did nothing to impact the slow drawl of AFL-CIO Boss John Sweeney Tuesday night who went a record two minutes over.

The Rajun Cajun is at it again. Over lunch at the fab Brown Palace Hotel in downtown Denver, the guy who made Bill Clinton president aired concerns over how Sen. Barack Obama will handle his outdoor speech Thursday night at Invesco Field at Mile High. After hearing stories that the stage looks very ancient Greek, he said, "I want to see this temple thing," he said. Democracy Corps pal, pollster Stan Greenberg, added that he is anxious over how Obama will perform in the huge stadium, how the camera angles will show it and if the whole affair will make Obama look too distant from the crowd. "I'm nervous about the stadium," says Greenberg. "Only a few people can do it." He's right. It's normally a stage reserved only for the Pope or the Rolling Stones. He said some of his concerns are if Obama will be able to "connect with the people." Inside the Pepsi Center, home to the Democratic National Convention, the stage is in a sea of supporters and most camera angles show cheering supporters. That won't be the case at Mile High, some Democrats say. Also, he is concerned that stadiums foster a festive atmosphere, with people doing the wave or tossing balloons and beach balls. Will it distract Obama? We'll see.

The duo also aired a complaint heard often hear about Obama: The campaign isn't focused enough on Sen. John McCain and is playing too nice and is avoiding the harsh words of politics. "Use a little sloganeering," barked Carville. "Every day, every minute should be hitting McCain."

DENVER—A day after Sen. Hillary Clinton called on her delegates to back Sen. Barack Obama, there were still many signs around Denver and the Democratic National Convention that her fans were not going away quietly. As I walked around the downtown area, along the 16th Street Mall and close to the Pepsi Center, there were pockets of supporters still calling for her to fight tonight during the state roll call vote. The largest group of Hillary backers, pictured above, set up camp just three blocks from the Pepsi Center and about as close as anybody can get without a special pass. And along 16th Street, there were smaller groups, like the two women pictured, Elizabeth McPherson of Texas, on the left, and Maureen Morrison Long from Oregon on the right.