This afternoon in a showing of unity, Barack Obama was officially nominated as the Democratic Candidate for President of the United States of America in Denver.

During the roll call, where state delegations announce their votes, New Mexico yielded their time to the Illinois delegation. After announcing themselves as the home of the “next President of the United States of America,” Mayor Daley of Chicago, yielded to the state of New York – home of Senator Hillary Clinton. In a showing of unity, Senator Hillary Clinton, after the state announced themselves, motioned to suspend the rules, count all delegate votes, and nominate Senator Barack Obama by acclamation.

With a loud cheer from the floor and no opposition, Barack Obama was nominated the Democratic Candidate for President. The Democrats, despite the bitter ending of their primaries, have a story book ending with a unified nomination on the Convention Floor. The party has been reunited for the common goal of winning the White House in November, despite the battles over the past few months.

Senator Obama will give his acceptance speech tomorrow evening at Invesco Field.

A report from the Las Vegas Review Journal had left rumors swirling that a Bruce Springsteen concert would be following Senator Obama’s acceptance speech on Thursday evening. Leaving Republicans already critical of his ‘celebrity’ eager for the opportunity to accuse Obama of being out of touch with the average American. Unfortunately, for those thousands who will be lining up to make their way to Invesco Field thursday night the Washington Post is now reporting that the Boss won’t be performing.

While Senator Obama had received a number of celebrity endorsements from stars such a Oprah Winfrey early in his campaign, it appears that in Denver he is making an effort to downplay ties to Hollywood.  Perhaps as a response to the series of McCain campaign spots accusing him of being the, “biggest celebrity in the world.”

Michelle Obama has been described by many as a “firecracker.” Now when I hear that, I think of Teresa Heinz Kerry. A strong woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, people act like that’s such a bad thing. To me? It’s inspiring.

She has a strong and respectable background, coming from a family with parents who wanted more for her and her brother, parents who worked hard for what they had and knew that they wanted more than that for their children. Michelle Obama has dedicated herself to her work, her community and her family. She is, what I would call, a very respectable woman.

Her speech was full of heartfelt anecdotes about her older brother and her late father as well as why she believed her husband was the best for the job of President of the United States. A speech that was unexpectedly emotional, moved many of the delegates on the floor of the convention hall to tears.

The most inspiring aspect of Michelle Obama is how well she believes in her husband. From the beginning she hadn’t been a big campaigner, however as the primaries progressed she spoke out in favor of her husband, and in favor of what she believed in – her husband leading America in a better direction and to a better future.

The Kennedys. Oh, bless their hearts.

I’m sorry, I love Caroline Kennedy, but she just…isn’t a great public speaker. Slightly monotone, lacking excitement. Speaking about her uncle, who since a young age was like a father to her, and walked her down the aisle the day she got married, you’d think she’d be a bit more enthusiastic.

While her facial expressions (thank you C-SPAN) show emotion, her voice? Not so much. She lacks the inspiration and conviction that you would expect given her heritage.

With the diagnosis of Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s (D-MA) brain cancer earlier this spring, the Democratic National Convention wouldn’t have been the same without him making an appearance. When it was finally publicized that his doctors had given him the okay to make the trip, it was as if he had come back from the dead. An impression emphasized by the quasi-memorial tribute video screened at the convention.

I am by far the biggest fan of Teddy. I interned for him in his Boston office my senior year of college, and ask any of my pals, I can spew out Kennedy trivia on command. But really? This memorial/tribute? Senator Kennedy is not dead yet, thank goodness, and I hate that the evening’s programing makes it feel like he is. I know people are worried that he won’t make it to the next convention but really now? This is…moving, and depressing. I can’t imagine a Democratic Party without Senator Kennedy, let’s not bring that to reality any sooner than necessary.

The man finally took the stage, with stoic laughter, and a modest thank you or two or four, with the wounds from his brain surgery obvious, and his face thinner because of chemotherapy. For someone who has been through so much in the past six months, his energy seemingly never faltered.

His energy, courage, and dedication are incredibly moving and motivating. “New hope,” he speaks of, not only does it resonate as the theme for for Senator Obama’s campaign, but also as the political legacy of the Kennedy family. As “Still the One” plays, you see emotion throughout the crowd – through Senator Joseph Biden’s (D-DE) glassy eyes, and through awe-struck Democrats who happen to be lucky enough to witness what could possibly be Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s last convention speech.