Obama: A mile-high convention

Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:12 AM by Domenico Montanaro

Obama moved the nomination acceptance speech to Invesco Field at Mile High, the home of the Denver Broncos. “The move will give Obama a potent visual in a crucial swing state this fall: a sea of some 75,000 fans, packed into an outdoor football stadium, screaming for their November hopeful,” the Boston Globe writes.

VIDEO: Countdown's Rachel Maddow talks with WashingtonPost.com's Chris Cillizza about Barack Obama's decision to address the Democratic National Convention in the 75,000-plus Invesco Field instead of the 20,000 capacity Pepsi Center.

The Denver Post: "The move would not be unprecedented. In 1960, the Democratic National Convention was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. But nominee John F. Kennedy delivered his acceptance speech next door at Memorial Coliseum. Invesco Field, home of the Denver Broncos, seats 76,125, and presumably several thousand more could fit on the field. The Pepsi Center holds fewer than 20,000 and will be restricted to delegates, media, high-dollar donors and guests of the Democratic Party."

Democrats also looked at Coors Field, the home of the 44,000-seat home of the Colorado Rockies, but opted for the larger Invesco Field, the Rocky Mountain News reports. A special block of tickets will be set aside for Colorado residents, the paper reports.

Bloomberg News looks at Obama's shift to the center and notes he has a higher hurdle to pull this off because he has "a consistently liberal voting record."

Some stats to get to know: "Obama, who has campaigned as a politician who can bridge partisan divides, voted with his party an average of 96.7 percent in his three full years in the U.S. Senate, according to Congressional Quarterly. McCain's ‘party unity’ score in the last three years averaged 83 percent; in 2001, the Republican supported his party just 67 percent of the time."

The Boston Globe's Canellos looks at the risks for a "President Obama" to push for health care reform. "The choice for a President Obama, like Clinton in 1993, would be whether to gamble his agenda -- and much of his credibility -- by pressing immediately for a transformation of healthcare. He could just as easily hold off a bit, realizing it will be a tough fight, and focus on more deliverable priorities for his first few months."

Planned Parenthood endorsed Obama last night. "The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse Barack Obama for president of the United States," Action Fund president Cecile Richards said in a release. "He is a passionate advocate for women's rights, and has a long and consistent record of standing up for women's health care. As president, he will improve access to quality health care for women, support and protect a woman's right to choose, support comprehensive sex education to keep our young people healthy and safe, and invest in prevention programs, including family planning services and breast cancer screenings."

Obama said yesterday he would not attend the opening Olympic ceremonies if he were president.

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Comments

Invesco Field, home of the Denver Broncos, seats 76,125, and presumably several thousand more could fit on the field.
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Wow. How will the Republicans compete with that? (assuming the Democrats can actually fill the stadium)

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:27 AM)

I have planned the last week of August around the dem convention.

Every year we attend our religious convention Labor Day Weekend. However the historical, and just plain excitment of the dem convention called for a change in plans in my household!

donna (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:28 AM)

i cant wait to watch that convention its going to be rockin and i wonder what the mccain event will be like...i just pray that it wont involve him talking in front of a teleprompter

McCain camp throws out 61 yr old women from event
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/07/07/mccain-camp-throws-a-61-yr-old-lady-out-of-his-event/
or

http://sensico2.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-blogs.html

camie (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:28 AM)

This whole "Shift To The Center" narrative is being blown way out of proportion. I believe it's in part driven by the right-wing media claim of "most liberal voting record" with which they tag any Democratic Candidate.

You know, back in 2004, Senator Kerry had "the most liberal voting record". Now, suddenly, it's Senator Obama. Had Senator Clinton been the nominee, magically, she would have "the most liberal voting record".

You get the picture.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:43 AM)

Senator Obama has not in my mind "flipped or flopped" on any issues, nor has he shifted. He has made clarifications, and he has shown expansion in his explanations, but he has been consistent in his positions. I respect his intelligence and ability to have broad thinking.
Much unlike McCain that is so twisted in his statements that I am sure he is only repeating what has been drilled into him by his handlers. I bet some of his team members would just love to pull their hair out with frustration over the inept performances of McCain on TV. Are some of them shaving their heads?
The end signature is dedicated to the librarian thrown out and not allowed to attend the "townhall" meeting yesterday because she had a sign that said...

McCain = Bush (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:52 AM)

I bet McFossil could fill a bathroom stall at Invesco; as long as he didn't require a telepromter also.

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:26 AM)

Wow. How will the Republicans compete with that? (assuming the Democrats can actually fill the stadium)

http://thepajamapundit.com/
the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 9:27 AM)
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Filling the stadium isn't the issue...it's what do they do with the extra 10K outside, that they couldn't fit. This will be an emotional and amazing site to see.

As an independent, all I can say is wow and Go OBAMA!
Right Wingers take note...you created this monster.

GP Chicago (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:29 AM)

Americans are sick of politicians who pose as celebrities, politicians who pose as reformers, politicians who pose as saviors. We have moved on. When the Obama campaign gets the message is anyone's guess. We cared about Obama's ideas, the very ideas that pulled a disappearing act - they have vanished. Obama has sold out to the interest groups he said he was against.

Latisha Rollins (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:29 AM)

Too bad you Dems nominated the weakest possible candidate. Hillary may be a complete and total monster, but at least she has some core principles she's always stuck with, e.g. health care. What are Obama's core principles? Haven't seem him hang on to any for more than a day or so.

Clinging to My Gun in PA (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:40 AM)

When will Obama stop saying insane things? Although I felt compelled to vote for whatever Democrat candidate got the nomination, Barack Obama is making a habit of pronouncing the ridiculous. He has gone way beyond baby kissing for votes. Every other day this otherwise intelligent person says things that contradict rationality. I want to vote for the guy, but virtually every day he says something that confounds my intent. How can a person who has been a US Senator, a university educated lawyer and a grown adult perceive the world in such a benighted and simple minded way? My only conclusion is that he is appealing to the nut wing of the party and my question is why. He has the nomination. If he is actually pronouncing what in his judgment are ‘good ideas’ we are going to be in worse trouble than we are with the current idiot.

Buddesatva, STL, MO (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:44 AM)

It cracks me up when the left talks about how McCain is just following his party...yet when you look at the votes, Obama is significantly more likely to toe the party line than McCain. The stats show that it is McCain who has crossed party lines much more often. And it's not like these stats are old...it's over the last 3 years. You gotta hate it when facts get in the way of a good story.

Dookie (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:51 AM)

Barrack Hussein is on a roll. Pity the fools that believe his drivel.

Bill Butler, Pagosa Springs CO (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:54 AM)

Anecdotal evidence:

I live in Bozeman Montana. I have had opportunities this cycle to hear Obama twice in person and go to a picnic with him on the 4th all within a 200 mile radius of my house. Now I have the opportunity to see the first African American accept the nomination of his party within 8 hours of my house. It is nice to NOT be taken for granted. It is satisfying to see a Democrat running smart and running to win. WIN that is a big deal for Democrats. Welcome to Big BLUE Sky Country!

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:56 AM)

Latisha - exactly which idea has he abandoned?

If you watched his campaign from the start, you know he suggested a more adult approach in which he would work with Republicans as people rather than the partisan food-fight approach we've seen in recent years from both sides. That was the basis of his initial support in this campaign, so in that sense what now is being called his move to the center really isn't.

But exactly which campaign idea that you feel Obama stated and since abandoned are you missing?

If anything, McCain is the flip-flop king of this cycle.

- On Iraq, he was for staying a hundred years before he for getting out in his hypothetical first term.

- On oil, he was against drilling before he was for it.

- On the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, he was against them before he was for wanting to make them permanent.

- On immigration, he was for amnesty before he was against it (and seemingly he is still for it, when talking to Latino audiences).

- On Hamas, he was for talking with them before he was against it.

- On Iran, he was for bomb, bomb, bombing it before he was... okay, he's been consistent on Iran.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:57 AM)

Dookie (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:51 AM)

How do you suppose that plays with the Christian Fundamentalist base that controls your party?

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:58 AM)

The McCain voting numbers are cherry-picked. When it came close to election time, McCain voted with Bush 95% of the time in 2007 and so far this year has voted 100% with Bush, in his very few votes.

McCain turned from maverick in 2001 to Bushie for the nomination. BTW, Obama votes with Bush about 50% of the time. Sometimes both parties support a vote.

Bob Collins,Newport News, VA (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:00 AM)

Latisha - President Obama hasn't sold out on anyone. Go ahead and believe the trash that the McSame and crew are putting out. They have nothing to run on.

President Obama - change we believe in.

ob08 (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:03 AM)

Please if you want to compare votes, please please compare the first four years of Mccain voting record to Obama's first four years.

Also, did Mccain ever work across the party line during his first term in the senate?

bibby, everett, MA (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:03 AM)

Love Obama all you want, but remember, when he says the "goverment" is going to "help" out every and any group that "government" is you and me. It will show in your paycheck, instead of $.40 for every dollar you earn going to pay for those free services, it will be $.60 going and you'll be standing in line with them.

I. Carpenter (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:06 AM)

Obamas staff is worried about rain for the event. No worries. I have already started to pray for lots of rain. Oh God, give us rain! I want to see Obama walk on water to his podium. It will be a site to see, I am sure of that. I get goose bumps at the thought just like the news media. Because lofty speeches and large crowds do not make a man.

Chuck Hasker Melbourne Beach Florida (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:06 AM)

You gotta hate it when facts get in the way of a good story.
Dookie
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Yeah, it's a fact that McFossil voted WITH Bush 95% of the time the past year and has adopted ALL his fialed policies during this campaign. A Bush third term. That's a fact, too. I know, isn't it a shame?

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:10 AM)

Obama hasn't changed his message. He is pragmatic. Sometimes he seems larger than life because he's the realization of Dr. King's dream. I hope Americans will treat him fairly when they vote because he really is the best candidate. He's young, smart, knows how to work with everybody, he listens, he really cares, he's Christian family man, and a multiracial person who loves everybody - this is the best presidential candidate in a long time. That's why people are so excited about him.

Judy (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:15 AM)

I have one issue. TAXES. Capital Gains. What was McCain's position (% of tax)? What is McCain's position(% of tax)? Why the difference? See stats are important because the vote is not a variable but humans, including McCain, will always be a variable.

daniel, NM (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:25 AM)

Are some of you watching and listening to the same political campaigns that I have? Obama is by far the best choice. After the last 7-8 years of Bush and his lies to the American people how can we even consider electing another Republican to the highest office.

rasbernard3, Rockford, Illinois (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:42 AM)

If you want another four years of Bush vote OBAMA.

Speaking of him saying insane things - now he wants to fast track bankruptcy proceedings. Whatever happened to people being responsible for their own "pursuit of happiness?" This middle class citizen is getting pretty damn tired of paying the way for everyone else. When times get tough, I work more. Right now, I have a full-time job and two part time jobs. Maybe I should just look for the easy entitlement way out and you guys can pay for my house, groceries, gas/water/heat/electricity/cable, medical expenses, children's education. Second thought, I just might be coming around to Obama, he's making it pretty dang easy and appealing to no longer do the right thing and just become a whiner.

Where do I sign up for all the free stuff? (Will this get posted?)

No longer a dem (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:48 AM)

I think that Senator Obama has some work to do as it relates to his stats. But, he did cross over with
1) Sentator Dick Lugar to work on eliminating nuclear proliferation.

2) Senator Tom Coburn from Oklahoma on getting an ethics reform pushed through the senate, the toughest since Watergate and upsetting his colleagues by promoting an outside firm to handle Senate ethics complaints.

3) Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon regarding

Roofin Reality, Houston, Tx. (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 11:52 AM)

The McCain camp saying that Barack is a flip-flopper is so typically partisan. Hypocrisy upon more hypocrisy. Instead of looking at what's best for America, McCain would rather boil things down to black and white and call one or the other evil. News flash! McCain has the most extensive flip-flopping record of any potential candidate for either party this year! Hello? Taxes? In other news, it looks as though Barack's time-table is right in line with what the Iraqi government recently announced that it expects from our American troops. Is Obama far more adept at leading us into a peaceful world? Bingo. Oh, and I'm sure that he knows the difference between Sunni's and Shiites, unlike McCain...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EetobKXQsr8

John Doe (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:02 PM)

I'm hoping to get a ticket to the Obama speech . . . so that there will be at least one empty seat.

Dale, Denver (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:06 PM)

I am excited this is my second time voting. Just to put in prospective, I have had friend who have not voted in the pass and could, now with this whole thing coming to a head here in Denver, well that just makes me more commited to making my vote and all other votes heard to. I am so excited that Obama has decided to go to Invesco, Its a smart call and hundrends of more people will be able to observe him. I hope everyone votes no matter what party this is historic in any way because we also get out of eight years of Bush. I can say this much dem will fill Invesco and who knows come november Obama might be making his exceptiance speech from a blue state aswell.

GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!THE TIME HAS COME!!!

Junor, Denver Colorado (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:22 PM)

I can't believe that the Democratic party is making such a big deal out of the convention and would actually move the acceptance to a stadium away from the convention center - how arrogant can Obama get? Obama is not a rock star - although I think he believes he is. As a life-long Democrat, I'm disgusted with all the fuss over him - he hasn't stuck to one thing he said he would do - what a complete disappointment!

DO - Seattle (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:33 PM)

Latisha...why do you keep cutting and pasting your comment? How have Obama's ideals changed? Go back and read his earlier positions...they have remained steadfast. "Refining" his positions...God, I hope so, I would hate a President who didn't update his/her ideas based on current information (Oh, that's right...that's what we've got now). Are you saying you'll stay home...vote for McCain...hoping for something to happen to Obama? What? For all of you who stay home or vote McCain...don't whine and complain when more youth die in Iraq and the economy continues to tank with no real effort going into getting us OFF fossil fuels!

Diana, Palmdale,CA (Sent Tuesday, July 08, 2008 12:42 PM)

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