Day Four in Charlotte

It just keeps getting better! AND, my voice keeps getting more hoarse from cheering! What an absolutely thrilling day!

Again, it started with our delegation breakfast. Our speakers and special guests included Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, actress Alfre Woodard, and Senator Dianne Feinstein. I made it down to the breakfast a little late after only 3 1/2 hours of sleep. Adreneline is keeping me running!

At the Time Warner Center, we learned that our Thursday night venue for the president's acceptance speech has changed due to weather. We were to be in the very large Bank of America stadium, but there's lightning storms predicted for the evening and the stadium is open air. It's really too bad Mother Nature isn't cooperating, because it means that the 10's of thousands of community that were due to join us won't be able to.

The proceedings started with LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigoso, then Branford Marsalis performing the National Anthem...beautifully done instrumentally.

MANY California speakers this evening including State Assembly Speaker John Perez, former State Controller Steve Westly, Representative Karen Bass, Nancy Pelosi, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Sandra Fluke.

Olympic Champion Gabby Douglas lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. California's own American Idol finalist, Jessica Sanchez sang the National Anthem with a gospel choir backing her up.

The first highlight for me was Representative Emanuel Cleaver II from Missouri who practically preached to us...electrifying the audience with his cadence and delivery.

As with the previous night when the women of Congress joined together onstage, the women of the Senate were in full force tonight! Somewhere around 56 speakers tonight. The big response to Elizabeth Warren was heartfelt from the crowd. She was greeted with a giant cheer and she was clearly overwhelmed. She has a very tough race in Massachusetts for Senate.

Around 10pm or so, I noticed a lot of activity out in the common areas of the Time Warner Center and all the halls were cleared and all participants were asked to be seated and the doors were shut... it was the arrival of Vice President Biden, his wife, the First Lady and other political leaders to witness the speech of the night, Bill Clinton.

We noticed sitting next to the First Lady was rising superstar Julian Castro from San Antonio!

Bill Clinton's speech was funny, engaging, compelling and one of the greatest lessons in economics ever given. He laid out in plain truth all the things wrong with the Romney/Ryan plans for the country AND dispelled very easily and clearly the un-truths being told about the President's record and his plan for America. America...did you listen?    

The biggest surprise of all to the crowd was when the President himself came out at the end of President Clinton's speech for a few seconds. We in our California delegation suspected it because NBC had reported earlier that it might happen....nevertheless.....it brought tears to our eyes to see him there!

The roll call of States was our last bit of business, with each state and territory declaring how many votes they were giving to the nomination of President Obama. There are 56 domains to present their delegate votes. You may know there is District of Columbia, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, American Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Abroad that are territories of the United States.  

California pledged 609 votes to the President....and then it was time to party!

We proceeded to the Nascar Museum for California Bash. Actor Eric McCormack  from Will and Grace spoke about his support of the president and then introduced Gavin Newsom who said a few words. The museum itself is quite impressive, with lots of interactive displays...including a virtual racetrack where you can actually sit in racecars and simulate a race at 200 miles per hour.

Off to bed at 2:30 and up again at 7:30 for the big day, the Presidnet's acceptance speech. More Later!