Posted 8-27-08

Democractic National Convention News

Protestors Clash With Police

Denver (VOAnews.com) -- Police in riot gear arrested at least 50 protesters as the U.S. Democratic National Convention opened in the western U.S. city of Denver, Colorado.

Police fired tear gas and clashed with demonstrators late Monday, as authorities tried to disperse some 300 protesters gathered in front of a local government building, the Denver City and County Building.

Authorities say the protesters were disrupting traffic and blocking public roads.

The clashes took place about a mile from the site of the Democratic National Convention. Hundreds of activists have converged in the area to protest issues like the war in Iraq and climate change.

Protesters held the first of several planned rallies Sunday, with a peaceful march through downtown Denver. Hundreds of demonstrators took to the heavily-patrolled streets, waving signs and chanting, "Stop the torture, stop the war."

Authorities have deployed riot police and secret service officers to secure the perimeters of the convention sites, where tens of thousands of people are gathered for the Democratic party events. Police have also set up temporary jail cells to detain unruly protesters. 

Hillary Clinton Urges Unity

Senator Hillary Clinton has urged millions of voters who supported her in the primaries to back presidential candidate Barack Obama. In a speech at the Democratic National Convention, Clinton called for party unity and said her one-time rival must be elected president.

Clinton received an enthusiastic standing ovation at the convention, where not long ago it was widely expected that she would be anointed as the Democratic Party's choice for president.

But in a marathon and sometimes hostile primary campaign she lost to Barack Obama.

Clinton told her supporters they must now back Obama because the party does not have a moment to lose or a vote to spare.

"Whether you voted for me, or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose," she said. "We are on the same team and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines."

Clinton's ability to deliver her supporters, many of whom are still angry over the fierce battle for the nomination, could spell the difference between victory and defeat for Obama.

Polls show that a significant percentage of Clinton supporters say they intend to vote for Republican candidate John McCain in the November general election.

A straightforward endorsement of Obama by Clinton was considered critical to his campaign, and she delivered that Tuesday night, saying  "Barack Obama is my candidate and he must be our president."

Clinton criticized McCain, saying his election would lead to more war and less diplomacy.  

"We know that President Obama will end the war in Iraq responsibly, bring our troops home and begin to repair our alliances around the world," she said.

Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner gave the keynote address to the convention Tuesday night, saying McCain will follow the same economic and foreign policies as the Bush administration.

"This race is all about the future," he said. "That is why we must elect Barack Obama as our next president. Because the race for the future will be won when old partisanship gives way to new ideas. When we put solutions over stalemate and when hope replaces fear."

Wednesday's speeches at the convention will focus on national security and foreign policy.

They will showcase Obama's pick for vice president, Delaware Senator Joe Biden.

Obama is scheduled to address the convention on Thursday, when he accepts the Democratic Party's nomination.

Biden to Take Stage Today

Democratic vice presidential pick Joseph Biden will take center stage on the third day of the party's National Convention in the western U.S. city of Denver.  The veteran senator from Delaware will be one of the headline speakers Wednesday night, along with former President Bill Clinton.

Joseph Biden is presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama's choice for running mate. He is highly regarded by many lawmakers from both parties for his first-hand foreign policy knowledge and experience.

Ted Kaufman is a charter member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees Voice of America and other U.S. international broadcasting agencies. He is a close friend of Joseph Biden, and was his chief of staff in the Senate for 19 years. Kaufman told VOA that Biden brings decades of foreign policy expertise to the table, but that is not all.

"The biggest thing he brings to the ticket is he is qualified to be president of the United States," Kaufman noted. "Everybody when they talk about potential vice presidential candidates, they put them in different categories - here is one that can help the ticket by delivering a state, here is one that can help the ticket by delivering an interest group. But they always talk about Joe Biden. He is the one, who, if something happens to Barack Obama, he is qualified. And I think that what is says about Barack Obama, he is not in this thing to win this. He is in this to make America a better place, and a better place in the world." 

Some analysts say the vice presidential candidate needs to take on the role of "attack dog" - to relentlessly go after the opponent from the other party. Larry Sabato, a political analyst and Director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, says the tone of this convention so far has been too "warm and fuzzy", and that Democrats need to use their four days in the spotlight to attack the presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and to tie him to President Bush.

"Biden should, and probably will go after John McCain and the Republicans hard. The convention delegates are expecting some red meat and they have gotten very little. So, he may in a sense help to rescue the convention, if he does a good job,' Sabato said. "If he does not, and it's a mild-mannered presentation, I think the delegates will leave very disappointed."

Bill Clinton also scheduled to speak, Wednesday

Also in the spotlight will be former President Bill Clinton, the husband of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who lost the nomination fight in a long, tough race to Obama. Sabato says Bill Clinton has made clear he has not liked the way he believes the Obama campaign has treated his wife.

"Everyone is going to be measuring every word that Clinton says because it is very well known that he has been unhappy with Obama, some have said that he has been pouting," Sabato said.  "He and his people have certainly been leaking quite a number of crucial comments from Clinton about Obama. So, his words will be weighed carefully. And, he will come through. He knows he is under the microscope. He will be very enthusiastic - while the cameras are on."

Senator Hillary Clinton issued an emphatic call for unity in the Democratic Party Tuesday night, and gave her disappointed supporters their marching orders to get behind Barack Obama.

"Whether you voted for me, or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team and none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines," said Clinton.

The former first lady also hit John McCain, saying voters cannot let him take the White House, and "squander the promise of our country." Next week, it will be the Republicans turn to go after Democrats at their National Convention in Minnesota.