The appearance of Barack Obama at the end there had spread throughout the Big Tent prior but it was a really nice moment. CSPAN kept cutting to Michelle reacting extremely emotionally to the whole spectacle. But even though I watched the speeches tonight on a TV, it was in a room full of bloggers, so I wondered how it played in, well, a normal home. From a friend:

Biden kicked ass. That was fantastic; really forceful and effective in making the case.

I'd say that sums it up.

But as a sum up of the whole night, I'll repeat what I texted to my Twitter page as the night wrapped up:

Proud to be a Democrat tonight.

What did you think?

Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden is introducing his Dad. This is actually a really moving speech in and of itself.

"I have something to ask of you: be there for both of them!"

"Please help me in welcoming my friend, my father, my hero, the next Vice President of the United States of America."

Update [2008-8-27 22:46:27 by Todd Beeton]:"I am proud to live in a country with the bravest soldiers in the world."

"Yes, yes I accept your nomination to run and serve with Barack Obama as the next Vice President of America."

This speech is really moving.

This place is dead silent.

This place is going nuts at the "George...I mean, John McCain..." line.

"John McCain is my friend...but I profoundly disagree with the direction John McCain wants to take this country."

Biden's repeated refrain: "That's not change, that's more of the same." It's a little awkward but true.

"These times require more than a good soldier, they require a wise leader." I really like this line.

(I'm running out of battery, so continue to discuss in the comments.)

Sorry I'm late. John Kerry is hitting McCain. Good to see.

For all those who still believe in the myth of the maverick to the reality of the politician." Kerry is essentially calling McCain a flip flopper, or worse, a normal politician contrasting candidate McCain and Senator McCain.

"Are you kidding me folks!? Talk about being for it before you're against it!" HUGE APPLAUSE here. Hilarious.

"Before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself." Niiiiice.

Kerry's repeated refrain: "Who do we trust to keep America safe?"

"No one can question Barack Obama's patriotism. Like all of us, he was taught what it means to be an American by his family." This speech is John Kerry's redemption.

Kerry has more passion in his voice talking about Republican political tricks and questioning Democrats' patriotism than I've ever heard from him, even his own acceptance speech. Is this the best speech of John Kerry's life?

Rep. Kendrick Meek is introducing Bill Clinton. There is an AP headline stating "Bill Clinton giving Obama forceful backing."

Update [2008-8-27 21:4:9 by Todd Beeton]:CSPAN keeps cutting to Hillary and Chelsea smiling wide, waving flags.

Update [2008-8-27 21:6:48 by Todd Beeton]:"I am here first to support Barack Obama. Second I am here to warm up the crowd for Joe Biden." The tent is laughing and applauding.

"That makes 2 of us. Actually, that makes 18 million of us." Nice line.

"Barack Obama is the man for this job." Got that traditional media? "In his first presidential decision, the selection of a running mate, he hit it out of the park."

"In Barack Obama, America will have the national security leadership we need. My fellow Democrats, I say to you Barack Obama is ready to lead America..." The message of the night: Barack Obama is ready.

"...to protect, defend the constitution..." That got a huge reaction here at the tent.

"Barack Obama is ready to be President of the United States."

"The world has always been more impressed by the power of our example than the example of our power." Hell yes.

Good, time to go after Republicans. "Now what have the Republicans gotten us?...The biggest income inequality since the 1920s."

"My fellow Democrats, America can do better than that. And Barack Obama will do better than that."

"Yes he can but first we have to elect him."

Oh lord, more praise of John McCain. "But on the two most important questions of this election, how to build the American dream and how to restore America's standing in the world, John McCain was wrong."

"John McCain is promising more of the same."

"Let's send a simple message to John McCain: thanks but no thanks. In this case, the third time is not the charm."

"Barack Obama will return America from fear and division to hope and unity. And if you still believe in a place called hope, then join Hillary, Chelsea and me in making Barack Obama the next president of the United States."

The bloggers are loving Bill.

I'm in the Big Tent and it is buzzing. Dinner has been served, the free beer is flowing and we're watching Jack Reed speak to the convention on CSPAN.

Bill Clinton will be speaking at 9pm EDT, followed a few speeches later by John Kerry which, apparently, is a speech that should not be missed as he is expected to really go after McCain.

Are you watching?

Update [2008-8-27 20:56:49 by Todd Beeton]:In case you missed this incredible moment at the convention.

I'm here in the hall, where following the nomination of Barack Obama the Democrats' Senate candidates are being featured. While we wait for Big Dog and the next Vice President of the United States, here are some new numbers from CNN and Time (.pdf) from some key swing states:

Colorado (8/24-26, 670 RVs, MoE +/- 4.0%

John McCain: 47 percent
Barack Obama: 46 percent

Nevada (8/24-26, 625 RVs, MoE +/- 4.0%

John McCain: 44 percent
Barack Obama: 49 percent

New Mexico (8/24-26, 659 RVs, MoE +/- 4.0%

John McCain: 40 percent
Barack Obama: 53 percent

Pennsylvania (8/24-26, 669 RVs, MoE +/- 4.0%

John McCain: 43 percent
Barack Obama: 48 percent

Not too bad, not too bad. Looking across the polling from these states, it appears that Colorado is about as tight as can be; Pennsylvania is close, though Obama has a noticeable edge; New Mexico is probably tighter than CNN and Time have it, though Obama probably has an edge; and Nevada is close. Gotta run do some reporting, but will be back to blog some more forthwith...

I'm back at the blogger tent and for some reason the whole, ya know -- convention -- is nowhere to be found on any television here. Luckily, David Dayen at Calitics is on the floor:

Dolores Huerta is making the nominating speech for Hillary Clinton right now.  People are pretty rapidly taking their seats. [...]

UPDATE: Obama is about to be nominated.  The applause for Obama's nomination is defeaning.  There will be no fight on this floor.  A registered Republican from Tennessee, Michael Wilson, is offering the nomination.  He's an Iraq war vet.  "I support Barack Obama because America needs a President with the strength, wisdom and courage to talk with our enemies and consult with our allies." [...]

UPDATE: Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a strong Hillary supporter in the primaries and co-chair of her campaign, is seconding Obama's nomination.  "No matter where we stood during the campaign, Democrats stand together today."  Seriously, the disunity idiots need to stuff it.

Update [2008-8-27 18:12:13 by Todd Beeton]:DemConWatch is also liveblogging the roll call from within the hall. Oreo has the counts in the comments.

Update [2008-8-27 18:49:6 by Todd Beeton]:OK, we got CSPAN. Hillary just called for Barack's nomination by acclamation.

I move that Senator Obama of Illinois be selected by acclamation as the nominee for the presidency of the United States.

The Big Tent just went nuts with applause. When Pelosi asked if there is a second, there was another cheer in the tent.

Barack Obama is our nominee.

In a move reminiscent of Mark Penn's many shady associations, high powered lobbying shop Glover Park is seeking to land a project working AGAINST the Democratic energy bill. From Tom Edsall in the Huffington Post: