View source for 2008 Democratic National Convention

{{short description|U.S. political event held in Denver, Colorado}}
{{See also|Schedule for the 2008 Democratic National Convention|2008 Democratic Party presidential candidates|2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox national political convention
| year             = 2008
| party            = Democratic
| logo             = Democratic National Convention 2008.svg
| logo_size        = 150px
| image            = DP08.png
| image_size       = 125
| image2           = DV08.png
| image_size2      = 125
| caption          = Nominees<br />Obama and Biden
| date             = August 25–28, 2008
| venue            = [[Pepsi Center]] <small>(August 25 – August 27)</small><br />[[Broncos Stadium at Mile High|Invesco Field at Mile High]] <small>(August 28)</small>
| city             = [[Denver]], [[Colorado]]
| chair            = [[Nancy Pelosi]] of [[California]]
| keynote_speaker  = [[Mark Warner]] of [[Virginia]]
|ballots           = 1
| speakers         = [[Michelle Obama]]<br />[[Ted Kennedy]]<br />[[Hillary Clinton]]<br />[[Bill Clinton]]<br /> [[Nancy Pelosi]]<br />[[John Kerry]]<br />[[Al Gore]]<br />[[Dick Durbin]]
| presidential_nominee      = [[Barack Obama]] of [[Illinois]]
| vice_presidential_nominee = [[Joe Biden]] of [[Delaware]]
| othercandidates  = [[Hillary Clinton]]
| totaldelegates   = 4,419
| votesneeded      = 2,210
| presidenttotals  = [[Barack Obama|Obama]] ([[Illinois|IL]]): 3,188.5 (72.15%)<br />[[Hillary Clinton|Clinton]] ([[New York (state)|NY]]): 1,010.5 (22.87%)<br />[[Abstention]]: 1 (0.00%)<br />Not Voting: 219 (4.96%)
| vicepresidenttotals = [[Joe Biden|Biden]] ([[Delaware|DE]]): [[Acclamation]]
| previous_year    = 2004
| next_year        = 2012
}}
{{US 2008 presidential elections series}}

The '''2008 Democratic National Convention''' was a quadrennial [[United States presidential nominating convention|presidential nominating convention]] of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for [[President of the United States|president]] and [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]]. The convention was held in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], from August 25 to 28, 2008, at the [[Pepsi Center]]. [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Barack Obama]] from [[Illinois]] gave his acceptance speech on August 28 at [[Broncos Stadium at Mile High|Invesco Field]] in what the party called an "Open Convention".<ref name="event">{{cite web| title = ''Open Convention''| url = https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/openconvention1| access-date = July 7, 2008| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080710013752/https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/openconvention1| archive-date = July 10, 2008| df = mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="news1">{{cite news|title=Obama accepts Democrat nomination |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7586375.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=August 29, 2008 |access-date=August 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105234449/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7586375.stm |archive-date=January 5, 2010 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Denver last hosted the [[Democratic National Convention]] in [[1908 Democratic National Convention|1908]]. Obama became the party's first nonwhite nominee, and nominee of African descent, for president. Senator [[Joe Biden]] from [[Delaware]] was nominated for vice president.

Obama officially received the nomination for president on August 27, when his former opponent, U.S. Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] of New York, interrupted the official [[roll-call vote|roll call]] to move that Obama be selected by [[acclamation]].<ref>{{cite news
| first = Adam
| last = Nagourney
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/us/politics/28DEMSDAY.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&em
|title=Obama Wins Hard-Fought Nomination as Biden and Bill Clinton Rally the Party
|work=The New York Times
|date=August 28, 2008
|access-date=August 27, 2008}}
</ref> Biden accepted the nomination for vice president on the same night. Obama accepted his nomination the following night in a speech at Invesco Field before a record-setting crowd of 84,000 people in attendance.<ref name="news1"/>

==Leadership==
[[File:Convention chairs DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Permanent Chair [[Nancy Pelosi]] speaks during a press conference at the [[Colorado Convention Center]] the day before the start of the convention, flanked by the three co-chairs.]]
[[Howard Dean]] presided over the political party in his capacity as Chair of the Democratic National Convention. From the national committee, [[Leah D. Daughtry]] served as chief executive of the Democratic National Convention Committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to the New DemConvention.com |url=http://www.demconvention.com/welcome-to-the-new-demconvention-com/ |publisher=Demconvention.com |access-date=February 6, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080214121013/http://www.demconvention.com/welcome-to-the-new-demconvention-com/ |archive-date = February 14, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>  [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]] [[Nancy Pelosi]] served as permanent chair of the convention. Sharing in her responsibilities in the convention were three co-chairmen: [[Governor of Kansas|Kansas Governor]] [[Kathleen Sebelius]], [[Texas Senate|Texas State Senator]] [[Leticia R. Van de Putte]], and [[List of mayors of Atlanta|Atlanta Mayor]] [[Shirley Franklin]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-02-2007/0004619508&EDATE= |title=Democrats Announce 2008 Convention Chairs |publisher=Prnewswire.com |access-date=October 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926150707/http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F07-02-2007%2F0004619508&EDATE= |archive-date=September 26, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Schedule==
{{Main|Schedule for the 2008 Democratic National Convention}}
Choosing to hold the convention the day after the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympic Games]] concluded, the Democratic Party convened in Denver in the last week of August, a week before the [[2008 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] in [[St. Paul, Minnesota]]. The decision was made, according to the party, to "maximize momentum for our Democratic ticket in the final months of the Presidential election".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/11/week_in_review_9.php | title=Week In Review: National Organizing Kickoff a Great Success | publisher=democrats.org | date=November 11, 2005 | access-date=December 28, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080310194635/http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/11/week_in_review_9.php  |archive-date = March 10, 2008}}</ref>  Customarily, the party of the incumbent president holds its convention after the opposing party has held theirs.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The Democratic National Committee presented themes for each day of the convention. The August 25 theme was "One Nation". The August 26 theme was "Renewing America's Promise" while its August 27 theme was "Securing America's Future". The August 28 theme highlights Obama's campaign motto, "Change We Can Believe In". Featured speakers crafted their messages to the theme of the day.

==Early party division==
With close delegate counts for [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|Barack Obama]] and [[Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton]], there was early speculation of the first [[brokered convention]] in decades. [[Democratic National Committee]] Chair [[Howard Dean]] sought to avoid such a circumstance.<ref>{{cite news|title=Democratic dead-heat 'not good news' says Dean |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gr19amb8dYUFiBqyY2_ht5d7lkwA |agency=AFP |date=February 6, 2008 |access-date=February 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523214004/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gr19amb8dYUFiBqyY2_ht5d7lkwA |archive-date=May 23, 2008 }}</ref>

In addition to the possibility of a brokered convention, a dispute over seating delegates from Florida and [[Michigan]] led some to compare the year's convention with the [[1968 Democratic National Convention]], which ended in a divided party and unhappiness over the outcome.<ref>{{cite news|first=Carolyn |last=Lochhead |title=Brokered Dem convention looking more likely |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/07/MNN0UT8M5.DTL&type=politics |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=February 7, 2008 |access-date=February 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210024808/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2008%2F02%2F07%2FMNN0UT8M5.DTL&type=politics |archive-date=February 10, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>  This speculation ended when Obama was declared the presumptive nominee on June 3, 2008,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/03/election.democrats/index.html |title=CNN projects Obama clinches nomination |publisher=CNN |date=June 3, 2008 |access-date=June 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112011028/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/03/election.democrats/index.html |archive-date=January 12, 2010 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> and Clinton officially announced later that week that she was suspending her campaign and was fully endorsing Obama.<ref name="ap060708">{{cite news | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24993082 | title=Clinton ends historic bid, endorses Obama | publisher=Associated Press for NBC News | date=June 7, 2008 | access-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref>

==Rules==
On February 2, 2007, the Democratic Party published "Call for the 2008 Democratic National Convention,"<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|last=Democratic National Committee |author-link=Democratic National Committee |title=''Call for the 2008 Democratic National Convention'' |publisher=Democratic National Committee |date=February 2, 2007 |url=http://www.democrats.org/page/-/dem_convention/call.pdf |access-date=January 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608092338/http://www.democrats.org/page/-/dem_convention/call.pdf |archive-date=June 8, 2011 }}</ref> the rules governing the convention. There were 3,409.5 pledged delegates, those committed to vote for a particular candidate, selected by primary voters and caucus participants. There were about [[List of superdelegates at the 2008 Democratic National Convention|823.5 unpledged delegates]], those free to vote for any candidate, [[colloquially]] known as "[[superdelegates]]", for a total of about 4,233 delegates, requiring 2,117 votes to constitute a majority of the convention.<ref name=autogenerated1 />  The superdelegates consisted of DNC members, Democratic Congress members and Governors, and other prominent Democrats.<ref>{{Cite news | title = The Primary Season: 2008 Democratic Calendar| newspaper = [[The New York Times]]| url = http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/primaries/democraticprimaries/index.html | access-date=September 4, 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080905215618/http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/primaries/democraticprimaries/index.html%20| archive-date= September 5, 2008| url-status= live}}</ref>

The pledged delegates were allocated among the states, the [[District of Columbia]] and [[Puerto Rico]], according to two main criteria: 1) proportion of votes each state gave the candidate in the last three [[U.S. Presidential Elections| presidential elections]]; and 2) percentage of votes each state has in the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]]. Fixed numbers of delegates were allocated for [[American Samoa]], [[Guam]], the [[United States Virgin Islands]], and [[Democrats Abroad]]. Under the party's ''Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Democratic National Committee |author-link=Democratic National Committee |title=''Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention'' |publisher=Democratic National Committee |date=August 19, 2006 |url=http://www.democrats.org/page/-/dem_convention/rules.pdf |access-date=January 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006191218/http://www.democrats.org/page/-/dem_convention/rules.pdf |archive-date=October 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> delegates were awarded through [[proportional representation]] with a minimum threshold of 15% of votes in a state or congressional district to receive delegates. The delegate population must reflect the state's ethnic distribution, and at least 50% of the delegates must be women.

==Results of delegate voting==
[[File:Roll call DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Democratic National Committee Secretary Alice Travis Germond opens the roll call of the states during the third day of the convention.]]
Along with presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama, former opponent Hillary Clinton's name was also placed in the roll call vote for nomination.<ref name="nameconvention">{{cite news
|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/14/clinton/?iref=hpmostpop
|title=Clinton's name to be put in nomination at convention
|access-date=August 20, 2008
|last=King
|first=John
|author2=Jessica Yellin|author3=Candy Crowley|author4=Robert Yoon
|date= August 14, 2008
|publisher= CNN
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080917192205/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/14/clinton/?iref=hpmostpop| archive-date= September 17, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' noted that this has occurred before: [[Jerry Brown]]'s name was entered into the roll call after losing to [[Bill Clinton]] in 1992; [[Jesse Jackson]] and [[Gary Hart]] also had their names added after losing to [[Walter F. Mondale]] in 1984;<ref name="placed">{{cite news
 |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-clinton15-2008aug15,0,796850.story 
 |title=Hillary Clinton's name to be placed in nomination at convention 
 |access-date=August 12, 2008 
 |last=Nicholas 
 |first=Peter 
 |date=August 15, 2008 
 |work=Los Angeles Times 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817232206/http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-clinton15-2008aug15%2C0%2C796850.story 
 |archive-date=August 17, 2008 
 |url-status=live 
}}</ref> while Jackson's name was also entered into the roll call after losing to [[Michael Dukakis]] in 1988.<ref>{{cite web 
 |url=https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jessejackson1988dnc.htm
 |title=Jesse Jackson - 1988 Democratic National Convention Address
 |access-date=October 3, 2017
 |work=American Rhetoric
 |date=July 19, 1988
}}</ref> In 1980, Senator [[Ted Kennedy]]'s name was entered into the roll call after losing to [[Jimmy Carter]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/ny-uscamp085793068aug08,0,4512931.story 
 |title=Clinton may seek roll-call vote at Dems' convention 
 |access-date=August 19, 2008 
 |last=Brune 
 |first=Tom 
 |author2=Janie Lorber 
 |date=August 8, 2008 
 |work=Newsday 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812043530/http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/ny-uscamp085793068aug08%2C0%2C4512931.story 
 |archive-date=August 12, 2008 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref> In addition, Clinton became only the fourth woman to have her name placed in nomination for president at a major party convention. (U.S. Sen. [[Margaret Chase Smith]] of Maine was placed in nomination at the [[1964 Republican National Convention]], and U.S. Rep. [[Shirley Chisholm]] of New York was placed in nomination at the [[1972 Democratic National Convention]].<ref name=nameconvention/> In 1976, anti-abortionist [[Ellen McCormack]] had her name placed in nomination along with [[Morris K. Udall|Mo Udall]], [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Jerry Brown]].)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080918033726/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914263-3,00.html Shall We Gather at the Hudson River?]</ref> Clinton would have her name placed in nomination for president once more, in 2016, along with [[Bernie Sanders]].
[[File:Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton speakings together.jpg|thumb|right|250px|{{center|Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama}}]]

===President===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+'''Democratic National Convention presidential vote, 2008'''<ref name="TGP">{{cite web |url=http://www.demconvention.com/securing-the-nomination |title=Securing the Nomination |access-date=January 26, 2009 |publisher=Democratic National Convention|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080528235515/http://www.demconvention.com/securing-the-nomination |archive-date = May 28, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! style="width: 17em" |Candidate
! style="width: 5em" |Votes
! style="width: 7em" |Percentage
|-
| '''[[Barack Obama]]'''
| style="text-align:right;"| '''3,188.5'''
| style="text-align:right;"| '''72.15%'''
|-
| [[Hillary Clinton]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,010.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 22.87%
|-  style="background:#eee; text-align:right;"
|| Abstentions
|| 1.0
|| 0.00%
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:right;"| Delegates who did not vote{{Ref label|delegates|A|A}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 219.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.96%
|-  style="background:#eee; text-align:right;"
|| '''Totals'''
|| '''4,419.0'''
|| '''100.00%'''
|}

Part way through the roll call (the New Mexico delegation first yielded to the Illinois delegation, who then yielded to the New York delegation), Senator Clinton of New York stated, "Madame Secretary, I move that the convention suspend the procedural rules and suspend the further conduct of the roll call vote. All votes cast by the delegates will be counted, and that I move Senator Barack Obama of Illinois be selected by this convention by [[acclamation]] as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States." This was done and the verbal roll call vote was halted. Earlier the same day, Clinton had released her delegates, allowing them to vote for Obama.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7584307.stm |title=Bill Clinton hails Barack Obama |date=August 28, 2008 |access-date=September 1, 2008 |work=BBC News| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080901064745/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7584307.stm| archive-date= September 1, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Along with the verbal roll call, a paper ballot was taken. The results were 3,188.5 for Obama and 1,010.5 for Clinton. There are an additional 219 votes that were not cast.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.demconvention.com/roll-call-results/ |title=2008 Democratic National Convention Roll Call Results |date=August 2, 2008 |access-date=August 2, 2008 |publisher=Democratic National Convention Committee|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080903201153/http://www.demconvention.com/roll-call-results/ |archive-date = September 3, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Vice president===
[[Joseph R. Biden|Joe Biden]] was nominated by acclamation.

==Venue==
{{Location map+|USA|width=400|float=center|caption=Sites of the 2008 national presidential nominating conventions|places=
{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue-gold pog.svg|marksize=14|lat_deg=39.739167|lon_deg=-104.984722|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label='''[[Denver]]'''}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=red pog.svg|lat_deg=44.9441|lon_deg=-93.0852|position=top|background=#FFFFFF|label=[[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]]}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=purple pog.svg|lat_deg=39.1|lon_deg=-94.58|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=[[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=41.836944|lon_deg=-87.684444|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=[[Chicago]]}}
}}
[[File:Democratic National Convention site 2008.jpg|thumb|The 2008 Democratic National Convention was held in Denver's Pepsi Center]]
[[File:Invesco Field at Mile High July 2007 1.jpg|right|thumb|Invesco Field at Mile High, where Senator Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech]]

===Site selection===
In late November 2005, 35 locations were invited by the DNC to bid for the right to host the 2008 convention: [[Atlanta]], [[Baltimore]], Boston, [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], Chicago, [[Cleveland]], [[Dallas]], [[Denver]], Detroit, [[Houston]], [[Indianapolis]], [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], Los Angeles, [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], Miami, [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]], [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin|Milwaukee]], [[Minneapolis]]/[[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]], [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], New Orleans, New York City, [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Pittsburgh]], [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], [[Salt Lake City]], [[San Antonio]], San Diego, San Francisco, [[Seattle]], and Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com/2005/12/atlanta-invited-to-submit-bid-for-08.html |title=Georgia Politics Unfiltered: Atlanta invited to submit a bid for the '08 Democratic Convention |publisher=Georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com |author=Andre |date= December 16, 2005 |access-date=October 2, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080827200821/http://georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com/2005/12/atlanta-invited-to-submit-bid-for-08.html |archive-date = August 27, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Eleven cities originally accepted the invitation to bid for the convention in January 2006: [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]], Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Minneapolis–St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Phoenix, and San Antonio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1001036.php |title=News: Anaheim asked to make bid for Republican convention |publisher=Ocregister.com |author=Dena Bunis |access-date=October 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015140620/http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1001036.php |archive-date=October 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>  A formal request for proposal was mailed to participating cities on February 27 and the deadline for cities to respond was May 19, 2006.

Only three cities submitted final proposals to host the convention: Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and New York. New Orleans had submitted an initial bid, but on July 12, the city dropped out. The cities were visited by a 10-member Technical Advisory Committee in June 2006. On September 27, the Republicans announced they would have their 2008 convention in St. Paul, removing it from consideration and leaving only Denver and New York as potential hosts. Despite hard lobbying by New York party boosters, then-Republican Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] dealt the campaign a major blow when he announced the city lacked the financial means to support a convention.<ref>[http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/01/cqpolitics_news_alert_denver_g.html Politics Home Page : Roll Call] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125090450/http://www.cqpolitics.com/2007/01/cqpolitics_news_alert_denver_g.html |date=January 25, 2007 }}</ref>  Denver was chosen as the host on January 11, 2007, as Democrats looked to make gains in the "Purple West" states of Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.

===Preparations===
[[File:Big media tent, outside view (2794305804).jpg|thumb|right|A $15&nbsp;million temporary building was erected for use by the media]]

The work to prepare Pepsi Center for the Democratic National Convention was expected to cost $15&nbsp;million. In addition, a {{convert|220000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} temporary building to be used by the media was built near Pepsi Center.<ref>[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0,2777,DRMN_23916_5356469,00.html Dems will redo Pepsi center for national convention]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201158/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23916_5356469%2C00.html |date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref>

Convention organizers, including the Democratic National Convention Committee and the [[Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee]], expected 50,000 attendees, of whom 5,000 were delegates and 15,000 media personnel.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.demconvention.com/frequently-asked-questions/ |publisher=Demconvention.com |access-date=February 6, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080430112640/http://www.demconvention.com/frequently-asked-questions/ |archive-date = April 30, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, they anticipated 75,000 people coming to watch Obama accept the nomination on Thursday.<ref name="event" />

The stage erected at Invesco Field for the convention's final evening featured [[doric columns]] meant to evoke the [[White House]]'s [[neoclassical architecture]]. Some critics criticized this design as evoking imperial imagery.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rhodes |first1=Margaret |title=The Hidden Meanings Behind the Set Designs of the RNC and DNC |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/07/hidden-meanings-behind-set-designs-rnc-dnc/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=10 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Milbank |first1=DanaMilbank |title=Dana Milbank - Obama's Big Fat Greek Setting |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/28/AR2008082804068.html |access-date=10 May 2023 |date=29 August 2008}}</ref>

===Labor issues===
The head of the [[International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees]] Local No. 7, Jim Taylor, refused to sign a no-strike agreement for the convention. Pepsi Center normally uses nonunion labor, but used Taylor's union during the convention, and Taylor wanted Pepsi Center to use his union for all events.<ref>[http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_4960962 Union head rankled by losing bid]</ref>

===Security measures===
<gallery>
Image:denver_police_in_riot_gear.jpg|Denver Police bear riot gear during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
Image:decontamination_tents_in_front_of_INVESCO_Field.jpg|A "decontamination tent" was maintained by security in front of INVESCO field, where Obama spoke on the last day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention
Image:denver_police_DNC.jpg|Denver Police patrol the "LoDo" (Lower Downtown) district during the convention
</gallery>

As with past political conventions since 2000, the Democratic National Convention was designated a [[National Special Security Event]] (NSSE) by the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] (DHS).

The [[Denver Police Department]] doubled in size to 3,000 officers for the DNC, by including other police from 52 neighboring law enforcement agencies.<ref>[http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/22/denver-police-force-doubled-convention/ Denver police force doubled for convention]</ref>  Police were equipped with [[riot gear]] in preparation for unorganized protests. Throughout the event, a total of 152 arrests were made for offenses related to the convention.<ref>[http://cbs4denver.com/local/denver.Convention.Arrests.2.805435.html DNC Final Tally: DPD Makes 152 Arrests] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012081348/http://cbs4denver.com/local/denver.Convention.Arrests.2.805435.html |date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref>

{{clear}}

==Principal speakers==

===Monday, August 25===
[[File:20080825 Michelle Obama Close-up at 2008 Democratic National Convention.png|thumb|[[Michelle Obama]] speaking as the convention's opening night's headliner]]
[[File:Ted Kennedy 2008 DNC (2893908851) (cropped1).png|thumb|right|[[Ted Kennedy]] speaks during the first night of the Convention]]

The theme for the day was "One Nation," with [[Michelle Obama]] as the "headline prime-time speaker."<ref name=secondlist/> She was introduced by her brother, [[Craig Robinson (basketball coach)|Craig Robinson]].<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080812/ap_on_el_pr/democratic_convention_speakers Pelosi, Michelle Obama to kick off Dem Convention]</ref> In her speech, she explained how her husband embraced the "One Nation" idea:<blockquote>
See, that's why Barack's running: to end the war in Iraq responsibly...<br />
... to build an economy that lifts every family, to make sure health care is available for every American, and to make sure that every single child in this nation has a world-class education all the way from preschool to college.
That's what Barack Obama will do as president of the United States of America.<br />
He'll achieve these goals the same way he always has, by bringing us together and reminding us how much we share and how alike we really are. You see, Barack doesn't care where you're from, or what your background is, or what party, if any, you belong to. See, that's just not how he sees the world.
He knows that thread that connects us – our belief in America's promise, our commitment to our children's future – he knows that that thread is strong enough to hold us together as one nation even when we disagree.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/transcripts/20080825_OBAMA_SPEECH.html|title=Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention|work=the New York Times|access-date=November 1, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080918190601/http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/transcripts/20080825_OBAMA_SPEECH.html| archive-date= September 18, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
</blockquote>
Also, [[Maya Soetoro-Ng]] spoke briefly on growing up with her older brother [[Barack Obama]], and brought an Asian-American presence to the stage for the first time.<ref>[http://www.asianweek.com/2008/08/25/asian-dispatchers-on-the-2008-dnc/ "Asian Dispatchers from the 2008 DNC"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827123736/http://www.asianweek.com/2008/08/25/asian-dispatchers-on-the-2008-dnc/ |date=August 27, 2008 }}. [[AsianWeek]]. Retrieved on August 29, 2008.</ref> ''The Work to Come: A Tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy'', directed and produced by Mark Herzog and Chris Cowen in association with [[Ken Burns]], was introduced by Kennedy's niece, [[Caroline Kennedy]].<ref>[http://www.herzogcowen.com/hce/news_2008_0825.php Kennedy Tribute directed and produced by Mark Herzog and Chris Cowen will air first night of Democratic National Convention] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509230100/http://www.herzogcowen.com/hce/news_2008_0825.php |date=May 9, 2010 }}</ref> Consistent with the theme of the evening, Former Republican congressman [[Jim Leach]] gave his public endorsement of Barack Obama. His speech was introduced by Senator [[Tom Harkin]], a fellow Iowan. Senator Kennedy was not expected to attend the convention due to his illness, but nevertheless made a surprise appearance and speech in the evening. A video about former President [[Jimmy Carter|Jimmy Carter's]] humanitarian work was also shown, followed by a brief appearance by the president himself.<ref>[http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/news/stories/2008/08/26/jimmy_carter_dnc.html Carter chooses filming Katrina video instead of live DNC speech]</ref>

===Tuesday, August 26===
[[File:Barbara Mikulski DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barbara Mikulski|Senator Barbara Mikulski]] speaks during the second day of the Convention]]
[[File:Hillary Rodham Clinton DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hillary Clinton]] speaks during the second night of the Convention]]
The theme for the day was "Renewing America's Promise."<ref name="secondlist">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.kxrm.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=177170 
 |title=DNC adds speakers, announces gavel times for Denver 
 |access-date=August 19, 2008 
 |date=August 19, 2008 
 |publisher=[[KXRM-TV]] 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901143040/http://www.kxrm.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=177170 
 |archive-date=September 1, 2008 
 |url-status=dead 
 |df=mdy 
}}</ref> Senator [[Barbara Mikulski]] was one of several elected women Democrats selected to speak that evening. Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] was the headline prime-time speaker.  In her speech, with former President [[Bill Clinton]] watching, Hillary declared, "We are on the same team."<ref>{{cite news | publisher = [[Roll Call (newspaper)|Roll Call]] | url = http://www.rollcall.com/news/27655-1.html | title = 'We Are on the Same Team,' Clinton Tells Party, Supporters | date = August 27, 2008 | access-date =September 2, 2009}}</ref>
[[File:Dennis Kucinich 2008 DNC.png|thumb|right|[[Dennis Kucinich|Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich]] addresses the Convention audience on August 26, 2008]]
[[File:Mark Warner (2802387276).jpg|thumb|right|[[Mark Warner]] delivering the keynote speech]]
Former Virginia Governor [[Mark Warner]] delivered the keynote address which included references to new job creation:<ref name=secondlist/><blockquote>
That's a story worth rewriting all across America.  With the right
leadership, we can once again achieve a standard of living that is
improved – and not diminished – in each generation. We can once again make
America a beacon for science and technology and discovery. Ladies and gentlemen, we know how to do it. The American people are ready.
And Barack Obama and Joe Biden will get it done.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS29744+27-Aug-2008+PRN20080827|title=2008 Democratic National Convention: Remarks as prepared for delivery by Mark Warner|publisher=Reuters|access-date=November 1, 2008|date=August 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109101000/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS29744+27-Aug-2008+PRN20080827|archive-date=January 9, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref></blockquote>

Ohio Representative [[Dennis Kucinich]], who had also run as a presidential candidate in the 2008 Democratic Party primaries, gave a spirited speech structured around the refrain "Wake up America!" The speech levies trenchant criticism of the perceived abuses of power of the [[George W. Bush]] administration, attacks the corporate control of the American political and economic systems and rallies for a program of universal health coverage, universal higher education, tax reform, trade policy reform, energy regulation, civil liberties and de-militarization. At the end of the speech, Kucinich endorses Barack Obama and Joe Biden for president and vice-president. His words electrified the audience who began delivering a standing ovation midway through the speech and continued cheering past its closure.<ref>Associated Press. "Remarks delivered by Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday." August 26, 2008, 9:12&nbsp;pm EDT. Archived on Politico.com. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12854.html. Retrieved 2001-01-11, 12:37&nbsp;am EDT. C-SPAN video archive available [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv0smG7ptcM here].</ref>

===Wednesday, August 27===
[[File:Joe Biden 2008 DNC (03) (cropped1).jpg|thumb|right|Biden delivers his nomination acceptance speech on the third night.]]
[[File:Barack Obama and Joe Biden 2008 DNC (04) (cropped2).jpg|thumb|right|Obama and Biden appear after Biden's speech]]
The theme for the day was "Securing America's Future". It featured a speech by [[Joe Biden]], the [[Democratic Party (United States) vice presidential candidates, 2008|vice presidential candidate]].<ref name=secondlist/> Before his speech he was introduced by his oldest son [[Beau Biden]], Delaware's Attorney General.

In that speech Beau talked about how his father would tuck him and his siblings into bed each night after returning home, how he refused invitations to cocktail parties in DC because he did not want to miss his granddaughter (Beau's daughter) Natalie's birthday. He remembered the accident that killed his mother and sister and how his father took the Senate oath at his and his brother's bedside. Several years later his father remarried "their Mom Jill" and their family was rebuilt. In the end Beau, whose Delaware National Guard unit where he is Captain was to be deployed to Iraq, said that while his father was always there for him, his duties that fall would prevent him from being there for his Dad. Thus he asked his family and everyone else to be there in November for his father and to be there for Barack Obama and make this country better again.

Joe Biden, in his speech, contrasted the two presidential candidates:<blockquote>

You know, you can learn a lot about a man campaigning with him, debating him, seeing how he reacts under pressure. You learn about the strength of his mind. But even more importantly, you learn about the quality of his heart.<br />
I watched how Barack touched people, how he inspired them. And I realized he had tapped into the oldest belief in America: We don't have to accept the situation we cannot bear; we have the power to change it.<br />
And change it – and changing it is exactly what Barack Obama will do. That's what he'll do for this country.<br />
You know, John McCain is my friend. And I know you hear that phrase used all the time in politics. I mean it. John McCain is my friend. We've traveled the world together. It's a friendship that goes beyond politics. And the personal courage and heroism demonstrated by John still amazes me.<br />
But I profoundly – I profoundly disagree with the direction John wants to take this country, from Afghanistan to Iraq, from Amtrak to veterans. John thinks that, during the Bush years, quote, "We've made great economic progress." I think it's been abysmal. And in the Senate, John has voted with President Bush 95 percent. And that is very hard to believe.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/transcripts/20080827_BIDEN_SPEECH.html|title=Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s Convention Speech|last=Transcript|work=the New York Times|access-date=November 1, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080918190745/http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/transcripts/20080827_BIDEN_SPEECH.html| archive-date= September 18, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref></blockquote>
Other speakers included former president [[Bill Clinton]], 2004 presidential candidate Sen. [[John Kerry]] ([[Massachusetts|MA]]), and Sen. [[Evan Bayh]] ([[Indiana|IN]]).<ref name=secondlist/> In his remarks, Clinton assessed Obama's readiness to be president:<blockquote>
Clearly, the job of the next president is to rebuild the American dream and to restore American leadership in the world.<br />
And here's what I have to say about that. Everything I learned in my eight years as president, and in the work I have done since in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job.<br />
Now, he has a remarkable ability to inspire people, to raise our hopes and rally us to high purpose. He has the intelligence and curiosity every successful president needs. His policies on the economy, on taxes, on health care, on energy are far superior to the Republican alternatives.<br />
He has shown – he has shown a clear grasp of foreign policy and national security challenges and a firm commitment to rebuild our badly strained military.  His family heritage and his life experiences have given him a unique capacity to lead our increasingly diverse nation in an ever more interdependent world.<br />
The long, hard primary tested and strengthened him. And in his first presidential decision, the selection of a running mate, he hit it out of the park.<br />
With Joe Biden's experience and wisdom, supporting Barack Obama's proven understanding, instincts, and insight, America will have the national security leadership we need.
</blockquote>

After [[Joe Biden]] spoke, his first address as vice presidential nominee, [[Barack Obama]] made a surprise appearance praising the convention.<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1131991,CST-NWS-dem28.article Obama makes surprise appearance]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918141916/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1131991%2CCST-NWS-dem28.article |date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref>

===Thursday, August 28===
[[File:ObamaSpeech2008DNC.jpg|thumb|200px|84,000 people filled in [[Invesco Field]] for [[Barack Obama]]'s acceptance speech.]]

The convention moved to  [[Invesco Field at Mile High]], with a DNCC record crowd of more than 84,000 people in attendance. Speakers included former Vice President [[Al Gore]], Governor of Virginia  [[Tim Kaine]], Governor of New Mexico [[Bill Richardson]], Illinois Senator [[Dick Durbin]], and the evening culminated in Barack Obama's acceptance speech.<ref name="news1"/> More than 38 million people across 10 U.S. cable and broadcast TV networks tuned in to watch.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/08/record_38_million_watched_obam.php |title=Record 38 Million Watched Obama Speech on 10 Networks |access-date=August 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728143508/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/08/record_38_million_watched_obam.php |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
[[File:Al Gore DNC 2008 (cropped3).jpg|thumb|200px|left|Former Vice President [[Al Gore]] speaks prior to Obama's Address]]
[[File:Presidential candidate Barack Obama speaks to the audience at the Democratic National Convention, Denver, Colorado, August 25-28, 2008 LCCN2010719317 (a).jpg|thumb|Obama delivering his speech]]
[[File:Invescofireworks (2807852484) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Fireworks at the close of the convention]]
In his speech, Obama said, "Our government should work for us, not against us. It should ensure opportunity, not for just those with the most money and influence, but for every American who is willing to work. That's the promise of America, the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise and fall as one nation, the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper. That's the promise we need to keep, that's the change we need right now."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/20080828_OBAMA_SPEECH.html|title=Barack Obama's Speech at the Democratic National Convention|last=Brown|first=Cameron|author2=GABRIEL DANCE|author3=JONATHAN ELLIS|author4=BEN GERST|author5=TOM JACKSON|author6=MAGDALENA SHARPE|author7= SARAH WHEATON|work=the New York Times|access-date=October 29, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081023052158/http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/20080828_OBAMA_SPEECH.html| archive-date= October 23, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The speech was well received, one news source calling it "The wrap-up to the party convention blended old-fashioned speechmaking, Hollywood-quality stagecraft and innovative, Internet age politics."<ref>{{cite news |author1=David, Espo  |author2=Robert, Furlow|title=Obama tells huge Dem crowd he'll fix Washington|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080829/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_convention_rdp_300|agency= Associated Press|publisher=Yahoo News |date=August 29, 2008 |access-date=August 29, 2008}}{{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===Seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan===
The Florida and Michigan legislatures moved forward their primaries to January 2008,<ref>{{cite news |title=Michigan's presidential primary set for Jan. 15 |author=Bell, Dawson|author2=Spangler, Todd |date=August 30, 2007 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-08-30-michigan-primary_N.htm |work=USA Today |access-date=March 6, 2008}}</ref> in contravention of party rules and were stripped of their delegates.<ref>{{cite news |title=Forewarned but Angry, Florida Democrats Weigh Primary Penalty |author=Goodnough, Abby |date=September 9, 2007 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09florida.html?hp |work=New York Times |access-date=March 6, 2008}}</ref>  The Clinton campaign with others initially opposed their seating, stating they acknowledged that the delegates from neither Michigan nor Florida would count. However, after winning the Florida and Michigan primaries, Senator Clinton spoke in favor of seating the states' delegates (despite Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, and John Edwards having removed their names from the Michigan primary ballot).<ref>{{cite web |title=Presidential Candidate Primary Listing|date=January 25, 2008|url=http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/pdf/mipp108.pdf|publisher=University of Michigan Library, Government Documents | access-date=July 10, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080425134636/http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/pdf/mipp108.pdf  |archive-date = April 25, 2008}}</ref> DNC Chair Howard Dean asked Florida and Michigan to submit a new plan for a process to choose the delegates, such as holding primaries again, or let the matter be referred to the Credentials Committee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Do-Over in Michigan and Florida? |author=Pickler, Nedra |date=March 6, 2008 |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igrYLRrHG3P6lIbs2E7pSH0bxhvgD8V7O7HG0 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=March 6, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080309194539/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igrYLRrHG3P6lIbs2E7pSH0bxhvgD8V7O7HG0 |archive-date = March 9, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2008, the rules committee agreed to let their delegates have half a vote each. In August 2008, Senator Barack Obama, the party's presumptive nominee, asked the credentials committee to let the two states have full voting rights at the convention.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/obama-wants-full-voting-rights-to-florida-michigan-delegates/ |title=Obama Wants Full Voting Rights for Florida and Michigan Delegates - The Caucus Blog |publisher=Thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com |author=Katharine Q. Seelye |date= August 3, 2008|access-date=September 5, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080904045756/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/obama-wants-full-voting-rights-to-florida-michigan-delegates/| archive-date= September 4, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The credentials committee met on August 24, the day before the convention began, and voted to restore full voting rights to Florida and Michigan.<ref>[http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012055700 DNC Gives Florida, Michigan Delegates Full Voting Rights] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914110927/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012055700 |date=September 14, 2008 }}</ref>

===Use of municipal fuel by convention planners===
From March through July, convention planners were provided subsidized and untaxed fuel from municipal government gas pumps at a price less than retail fuel available to ordinary citizens, reportedly without a signed contract. After the practice became public at a meeting with [[city council]] members, only convention planners' buses were allowed to refuel at city facilities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/23/report-democratic-conventions-host-getting-tax-free-gas/|title=Report: Democratic Convention's Hosts Getting Tax-Free Gas|date=July 23, 2008|publisher=FOX News Network|access-date=August 9, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080803193113/http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/23/report-democratic-conventions-host-getting-tax-free-gas/| archive-date= August 3, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/22/city-gives-dnc-host-committee-pass-gas-tax/|title=DNC host's tax-free gas evaporates|last=Chacon|first=Daniel J.|author2=Kevin Vaughan|date=July 22, 2008|work=Rocky Mountain News|publisher=Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group|access-date=August 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/29/city-gas-pumps-dry-dnc-vehicles/|title=City gas pumps dry up for DNC vehicles|last=Chacon|first=Daniel J.|author2=Kevin Vaughan|date=July 29, 2008|work=Rocky Mountain News|publisher=Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group|access-date=August 9, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10036780|title=Convention staff quits using city's tax-free gas pumps|date=July 29, 2008|work=The Denver Post|access-date=August 9, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080917225435/http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10036780| archive-date= September 17, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/12804/ |title=Glenn Beck – Current Events & Politics – Glenn Beck: DNC takes a gas holiday |date=July 23, 2008 |publisher=Glennbeck.com |access-date=September 5, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080919221749/http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/12804/| archive-date= September 19, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

===Lawsuit by protesters===
The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] filed a lawsuit on behalf of 12 organizations who planned to protest at the Democratic Convention, requesting that the Secret Service and Denver officials release information about procedures concerning protesting times and the Demonstration Zone.<ref>[http://www.coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3748 Judge Puts Democratic Convention Lawsuit on 'Fast-Track'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114071502/http://www.coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3748 |date=January 14, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite mailing list| title = Protest Groups File Suit for Right to Protest at Democratic National Convention| mailing-list = National Constitution Center| date = May 30, 2008| url = http://www.constitutioncenter.org/education/TeachingwithCurrentEvents/ConstitutionNewswire/19022.shtml| access-date =May 30, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080526170016/http://www.constitutioncenter.org/education/TeachingwithCurrentEvents/ConstitutionNewswire/19022.shtml| archive-date= May 26, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> In a June 12 release, a parade route and Demonstration Zone were announced. The Demonstration Zone will be in Parking Lot A of Pepsi Center. Some groups, including two groups opposing abortion chose to delay filing suit after it was announced that their applications for permits are being processed.<ref>{{cite news| last = Ivan | first = Moreno| title = Religious Groups Halt Lawsuit For Protest Permits| agency = Associated Press | publisher = CBS4Denver| date = February 28, 2008 | url = http://cbs4denver.com/denver2008/denver.protest.permits.2.659247.html| access-date =May 30, 2008}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>  In an amended complaint, the ACLU and interested advocacy groups have filed suit against the Secret Service and the city and county of Denver, questioning the constitutionality of the restrictions. The lawsuit failed and the ACLU did not appeal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politicswest.com/27819/no_appeal_planned_aclus_dnc_lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829214207/http://www.politicswest.com/27819/no_appeal_planned_aclus_dnc_lawsuit |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 29, 2008 |title=No appeal planned in ACLU's DNC lawsuit &#124; Politics West |publisher=Politicswest.com |access-date=September 5, 2008}}</ref>

===Demonstration zone===
{{Wide image|Dnc 2008 freedom cage.jpg|800px|Demonstration zone|box width|right}}

The official demonstration zone was unused on Monday afternoon, as the convention opened. The {{convert|47000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} fenced area was {{convert|700|ft|m}} from Pepsi Center and delegates could pass from 8 to {{convert|200|ft|m}} from it.<ref name="CSM080827">{{cite news|url=http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/08/27/protesters-at-democratic-convention-fly-the-cage/|title=Protesters at Democratic convention fly the 'cage'|last=Sabar|first=Ariel|date=August 27, 2008|work=The Christian Science Monitor|publisher=The Christian Science Monitor|access-date=August 28, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828161618/http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/08/27/protesters-at-democratic-convention-fly-the-cage/| archive-date= August 28, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

===Gitmo on the Platte===
'''Gitmo on the Platte''', was the colloquial name for the "Temporary Arrestee Processing Center," [[Denver, Colorado|Denver, CO]] set up to hold mass-arrested protesters during the 2008 Democratic National Convention which was held at the Pepsi Center in Denver from August 25 to August 28, 2008.<ref name=kos01a>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2008/8/15/568534/- |title=Gitmo On The Platte: The Police State Lives In Denver |author= davidseth |date=August 28, 2008 |website=www.dailykos.com |publisher=Daily Kos |access-date=October 19, 2017 }}</ref><ref name=huffpost01a>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-tucker/gitmo-on-the-platte-every_b_120365.html |title=Gitmo On The Platte? Your Guide To Democratic Convention Doublespeak |last=Tucker |first=Diane |date=February 2, 2009 |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=October 19, 2017 }}</ref><ref name=denverchannel01a>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/dnc-protesters-call-makeshift-jail-gitmo-on-platte- |title=DNC Protesters Call Makeshift Jail 'Gitmo On Platte' |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 16, 2008 |website=www.denverchannel.com |publisher=KMGH-TV |access-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020043053/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/dnc-protesters-call-makeshift-jail-gitmo-on-platte- |archive-date=October 20, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was so-named in reference to the conditions at [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]] (aka "Gitmo") and the processing center's location near the [[South Platte River]].<ref name=huffpost01a/><ref name=denverchannel01a/>

The Denver Police Department claimed the facility was set up to allow those arrested to be processed and released in a more timely manner than they would if they were to be transferred to the Denver County Jail, but faced substantial criticism in mainstream media.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-02-21 |title=Gitmo On The Platte? Your Guide To Democratic Convention Doublespeak |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gitmo-on-the-platte-every_b_120365 |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Banda |first=P. Solomon |date=2008-08-27 |title=DNC: Where are the protesters? |url=https://www.vaildaily.com/news/dnc-where-are-the-protesters/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=www.vaildaily.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-08-16 |title=Activists Slam DNC Arrest Facility - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/activists-slam-dnc-arrest-facility/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Suspected assassination plot===
{{Main|2008 Barack Obama assassination scare in Denver}}
On August 24, three men were arrested in the [[Denver]], Colorado area on drugs and weapons charges.<ref name="CBS">{{cite news|url=http://cbs4denver.com/investigates/assisination.plot.obama.2.802827.html|title=Plot to Kill Obama: Shoot From High Vantage Point|last=Maass|first=Brian|date=August 25, 2008|work=[[KCNC-TV]]|publisher=[[CBS]]|access-date=August 26, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080827032251/http://cbs4denver.com/investigates/assisination.plot.obama.2.802827.html |archive-date = August 27, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the arrests of Shawn Robert Adolf, Tharin Robert Gartrell and Nathan Johnson, a possible plot to assassinate Senator Obama surfaced.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jkwn9iRCwdE76BB6ClH6Qmw8NcFQD92PM6I00|title=FBI looks into Denver reports of threat on Obama|last=Paulson|first=Steven K.|date=August 25, 2008|agency=Associated Press|access-date=August 26, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080917212653/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jkwn9iRCwdE76BB6ClH6Qmw8NcFQD92PM6I00 |archive-date = September 17, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Authorities later said they had determined the trio posed no credible danger to Obama; U.S. Attorney [[Troy Eid]] said, "We're absolutely confident that the meth heads were not a true threat to the candidate, the Democratic National Convention or the people of Colorado."<ref name="RMN0826">{{Cite news|last1=Ensslin |first1=John C. |last2=Villa |first2=Judi |last3=Washington |first3=April M. |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/25/police-investigate-possible-plot-kill-obama/ |title=U.S. attorney 'confident' Obama not threatened |work=[[Rocky Mountain News]] |date=August 26, 2008 |access-date=May 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801073647/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/25/police-investigate-possible-plot-kill-obama/ |archive-date=August 1, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

===Arrest of an ABC News reporter===
A reporter from ABC News was arrested as he was photographing a meeting of Democratic senators and VIP donors. The reporter, Asa Eslocker, was arrested by the Denver police and charged with trespassing, interference, and failure to follow a lawful order.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622&page=1|title=ABC Reporter Arrested in Denver Taking Pictures of Senators, Big Donors|last=Ross|first=Brian|date=August 27, 2008|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=August 27, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080828163732/http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622&page=1| archive-date= August 28, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The charges were dismissed by the Denver city attorney.<ref>[http://www.denverpost.com/dnc/ci_10740674 Howard Pankratz, "ABC Producer Spared DNC Charges," ''Denver Post,'' October 17, 2008]</ref>

===Abortion protest sign===
[[File:Table Mountain DNC Abortion Protest.jpg|thumb|Abortion protest sign on Table Mountain]]
On August 26, 2008, a group of [[anti-abortion]] activists from American Right to Life Action constructed a sign on Table Mountain outside Denver, overlooking the convention.<ref>{{cite web | title = ARTL Unfurls World's Largest Protest Sign | url=http://americanrtl.org/worlds-largest-protest-sign | access-date = 9 November 2012 }}</ref><ref name="9News">{{cite news|url=http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=98414&catid=188|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080918130910/http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=98414&catid=188|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2008|title=Protest sign gets a lot of attention|last=Gandy|first=Sara|date=August 27, 2008|publisher=[[9News.com (NBC)]]|access-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref> The sign, made of 2400 sheets, read "Destroys / uNborn / Children" in three rows; it was lined up so that "DNC" appeared vertically in a different color. Later that day, the protesters were asked by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department to remove the sign. No citations were issued, though the group did violate two open space regulations of not applying for a special activity permit and going into a restricted and closed area that is considered sensitive to wildlife.<ref name="9News" />

===Website===
[[Microsoft]] was chosen<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.demconvention.com/dncc-names-microsoft-official-software-and-hd-web-content-provider-for-2008-democratic-national-convention/|title=DNCC Names Microsoft Official Software and HD Web Content Provider for 2008 Democratic National Convention|date=April 28, 2008|publisher=Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc.|access-date=September 3, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080518020747/http://www.demconvention.com/dncc-names-microsoft-official-software-and-hd-web-content-provider-for-2008-democratic-national-convention/ |archive-date = May 18, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Infrastructure/Inside-BarackObamacom-The-Technology-Backbone-Supporting-the-Democratic-Convention/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122181054/http://www.eweek.com/c/a/IT-Infrastructure/Inside-BarackObamacom-The-Technology-Backbone-Supporting-the-Democratic-Convention/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 22, 2013|title=Inside BarackObama.com – The Technology Backbone Supporting the Democratic Convention|last=Mark|first=Roy|date=August 22, 2008|publisher=[[eWeek]]|access-date=September 3, 2008}}</ref> as the web content provider for the convention web site, along with Vertigo Software as the developer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.demconvention.com/web-audience-to-view-live-high-definition-convention-video-through-application-created-by-vertigo/|title=Web Audience To View, Live High-Definition Convention Video Through Application Created By Vertigo|date=August 13, 2008|publisher=Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc.|access-date=September 3, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080814024751/http://www.demconvention.com/web-audience-to-view-live-high-definition-convention-video-through-application-created-by-vertigo/ |archive-date = August 14, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The video application developed was based on Microsoft's [[Silverlight]] platform and provided [[high-definition video]] streams.  The choice of technology that required [[proprietary software]] from a company with a [[United States Microsoft antitrust case|history of antitrust]] problems was criticized for both the exclusion of competing platforms<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/open_letter_barack_obama_and_dncc_video_format|title=An open letter to Barack Obama and the DNC (or, change video formats)|last=Taylor|first=Anthony|date=August 27, 2008|publisher=[[Free Software Foundation]]|access-date=September 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902194358/http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/columns/open_letter_barack_obama_and_dncc_video_format|archive-date=September 2, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ixnotes.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/democratic-national-convention-against-gnulinux-or-bought-by-microsoft/|title=Democratic National Convention against GNU/Linux or bought by Microsoft?|date=August 26, 2008|publisher=Ixnotes's Weblog|access-date=September 3, 2008}}</ref> by way of Silverlight's proprietary [[video codec]] and for requiring visitors to install the software when visiting the site.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.conversationmarketing.com/2008/08/democrats-lose-convention-web-sites.htm|title=The Democrats Lose: Comparing the Convention Web Sites|last=Lurie|first=Ian|date=August 26, 2008|publisher=Conversation Marketing: The Internet Marketing Strategy Blog|access-date=September 3, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080902154202/http://www.conversationmarketing.com/2008/08/democrats-lose-convention-web-sites.htm| archive-date= September 2, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Although [[Moonlight (runtime)|Moonlight]] is a [[cross-platform]] alternative that attempts to be compatible with Silverlight, as of the time of the convention it did not support features found in version 2<ref>{{cite news|url=http://lists.ximian.com/pipermail/moonlight-list/2008-August/000109.html|title=Video from Democratic Convention 2008 using Silverlight|last=de Icaza|first=Miguel|date=August 25, 2008|publisher=moonlight-list mailing list|access-date=September 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929082831/http://lists.ximian.com/pipermail/moonlight-list/2008-August/000109.html|archive-date=September 29, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> which were required.  In contrast, the web site for the [[2008 Republican National Convention]] used [[Adobe Flash]] streams provided through [[Ustream.TV]]{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} and [[YouTube]] which are viewable with several applications including the [[free software]] cross-platform clone [[Gnash (software)|Gnash]].

==Depiction in media==
[[Ava DuVernay]] was commissioned by the [[Smithsonian]]'s [[National Museum of African American History and Culture]] to create a film which debuted at the museum's opening on September 24, 2016. This film, ''August 28: A Day in the Life of a People'', tells of six significant events in [[African-American history]] that happened on the same date, [[August 28]]. The 22-minute film stars [[Lupita Nyong'o]], [[Don Cheadle]], [[Regina King]], [[David Oyelowo]], [[Angela Bassett]], [[Michael Ealy]], [[Gugu Mbatha-Raw]], [[André Holland]] and [[Glynn Turman]]. Events depicted include, among other things, the night Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for president at the convention.<ref name=Essence-NMAAHC-2016>{{cite web|last=Davis |first=Rachaell |title=Why Is August 28 So Special To Black People? Ava DuVernay Reveals All In New NMAAHC Film |url=http://www.essence.com/2016/09/22/ava-duvernay-premiere-nmaahc |work=[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]] |date=September 22, 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[2008 Green National Convention]]
* [[2008 Libertarian National Convention]]
* [[2008 Republican National Convention]]
* [[List of superdelegates at the 2008 Democratic National Convention]]
* [[Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee]]
* [[2016 Democratic National Convention]]
* [[2008 United States presidential election]]
* [[History of the United States Democratic Party]]
* [[List of Democratic National Conventions]]
* [[United States presidential nominating convention]]
* [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign]]
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.demconvention.com/ Official Convention Website] – temporarily deceased
* [http://www.denverconvention2008.com/ Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee (official)]
* [http://www.denverdnc2008.com/ DenverDNC2008.com – video, primary results and Denver info]
* [http://www.panoramas.dk/2008/democratic-convention/invesco.html 360 Degree Fullscreen VR Panorama from the Democratic Convention ]
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=78283 Democratic Party Platform of 2008] at ''The American Presidency Project''
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=78284 Obama Nomination Acceptance Speech for President at DNC] (transcript) at ''The American Presidency Project''
* [https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2008/barackobama2008dnc.htm Complete text, audio, video of Barack Obama's Democratic Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech] AmericanRhetoric.com
* [https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2008/hillaryclinton2008dnc.htm Complete text, audio, video of Hillary Clinton's Democratic National Convention Speech] AmericanRhetoric.com
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmEI9Doctqs Video of Obama nomination acceptance speech for President at DNC (via YouTube)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170821084248/http://convert2mp3.net/en/index.php?p=tags Audio of Obama nomination acceptance speech for President at DNC]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvY9HxFJymY Video of Biden nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNC (via YouTube)]
* [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94048033 Transcript and Audio of Biden nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNC]
* [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94003032 Complete text and audio from Mark Warner's Keynote address at Democratic National Convention]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXNQLvu4UgM Video of Mark Warner's Keynote Address at Democratic National Convention]

{{sequence
| prev=[[2004 Democratic National Convention|2004]]<br />Boston, Massachusetts
| list=[[Democratic National Convention]]s
| next=[[2012 Democratic National Convention|2012]]<br />[[Charlotte, North Carolina]]
}}

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{{2008 Democratic primaries}}
{{Barack Obama}}
{{Joe Biden}}
{{2008 United States presidential election}}
{{U.S. presidential primaries}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2008 Democratic National Convention| ]]
[[Category:Democratic National Conventions]]
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[[Category:2008 conferences]]
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