Preparations continue at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul (AP)

As Gulf Coast residents evacuate from the path of Hurricane Gustav, the GOP is substantially paring down the schedule for Day One of the Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (AP)

Presumptive nominee John McCain announced today that Monday’s events will consist only of official party business; no partisan speeches. Speaking to party officials in St. Paul via video conference, McCain said it’s time “to do away with our party politics, and [...] act as Americans.” (NPR)

Meanwhile, Republicans gathered for the convention continue to react to the news of Sen. McCain’s VP pick. Some think Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s working-class appeal will help with battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. Others are praising her conservative stances on abortion and other social issues. (NPR)

For his part, Democratic nominee Barack Obama has so far been gentle in his critiques of Gov. Palin and her positions. (AP)

Sen. Barack Obama speaks at Invesco Field in Denver (AP)

Senator Barack Obama accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party for the presidency before a crowd of 84,000 people at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

Thousands line up outside of Mile High Stadium (AP Photo)

In Denver this afternoon, the crowd is building at Invesco/Mile High stadium. That’s where the Denver Broncos play football.

But tonight, it’s where the Democratic National Convention caps off its convention with a speech by the Party’s nominee, Barack Obama.

WBUR’s Bob Oakes is at the stadium as final preparations are underway and joins WBUR’s Delores Handy to give us a preview. (WBUR)

Analysts agree, the stakes for Sen. Obama couldn’t be much higher. Tonight’s spectacular venue was selected months before Republicans started to make political headway, pegging Obama with the “celebrity” label. In response, Obama says his speech tonight will be more “workman like” in its tone, focusing on specific policies, rather than lofty rhetoric. (NPR)

Regardless of what happens tonight, the official nomination of an African American as a major party’s presidential candidate is undeniably historic. Tom Ashbrook and guests explore this national milestone live from Denver. (On Point)

Barack Obama and Joe Biden greet delegates at the DNC. (AP)

The ticket marks the first time a major party has nominated an African-American
as its presidential nominee. (NPR)

Massachusetts chose Hillary Clinton in the primary, but Bay State delegates helped Obama secure the nomination last night, with a little push from Governor Patrick. (WBUR)

A look at the path leading to this historic moment. (NPR)

In a surprise appearance, Obama joined Biden onstage after his running mate’s acceptance speech. (WBUR, NPR)

Bill Clinton threw his support behind Barack Obama last night. The former president stressed Obama is “ready to lead America” and restore the U.S. world position. (BBC)

>>Listen to Clinton’s speech. (NPR)

In On Point’sreport from Denver,top international journalists look at Obama on the world stage. (On Point) Four years after addressing the DNC as the presidential nominee, Senator John Kerry told delegates America is closer to electing a Democrat now than in 2004. (WBUR)

>>Listen to Kerry’s speech. (NPR)

Tonight, Barack Obama will accept the presidential nomination and deliver his acceptance speech, as the convention moves tothe Bronco’s football stadium. (WBUR)

Obama said the goal was “make sure that everybody who wants to come can join in the effort to take America back.” With 75,000 people expected, the scene will look and feelmore like a rock concert than a political event.(NPR)

Obama’s speech comes on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. (NPR)

Meanwhile, Republicans have been spotted in Denver this week, countering Democrats during their convention. (NPR) The GOP has set its party platform, which proved to be an exercise in balancing positions of the party faithful with those of their presumptive nominee, John McCain. (NPR)

Hillary Clinton, originally uploaded by WBUR.

At the Democratic National Convention, some party stalwarts are reflecting on a possible progressive revival. It’s an idea at the heart of the lingering rivalry between backers of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. On Point Host Tom Ashbrook explored the direction of the party in a conversation this morning with Rep. Allen Boyd (D) Florida, Arianna Huffington, editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, and Washington Post columnist E. J . Dionne.

Tonight at 7pm, On Point focuses on delegates from key battleground states.

Senator Clinton is scheduled to release her delegates tonight at the Democratic National Convention. But not all of her supporters are ready to back the presumptive nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.

For many backers of Hillary Clinton, there are questions about the place of women in the Democratic Party. Here and Now Host Robin Young explored those questions with Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman.

Robin also reviewed the roll call process with Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times.

The writer and journalist Damon Runyon got his start in the newspaper business in Colorado. He covered the 1908 Democratic convention here and went onto fame in New York City. The musical Guys and Dolls was based on two of his stories. Robin looked at his Denver roots with John Insilin, a reporter with the Rocky Mountain News and historian of the Denver Press Club.

Reporting from the Convention, originally uploaded by WBUR.

Kennedy Speaks to DNC: ‘Season of Hope’ for America
Senator Edward Kennedy took the stageduring the Democratic National Convention yesterday, saying he’s beenstrengthened by a new hope for the nation andvowing to be backin the Senate in January. (WBUR)

>>View last night’s video tribute to the life of the senator.

Massachusetts delegates react to the speech, and WBUR’s Bob Oakes shares his
thoughts on Kennedy.

Oakes also talks to Massachusetts Senator John Kerry about Kennedy and what advice the former presidential candidate has for Barack Obama this time around. (WBUR)

Michelle Obama was the other keynote speaker at the convention last night, portraying her husband Barack as a family man with faith in the American dream. (NPR)

The candidate himself was on the campaign trail, but watched his wife’s addressfrom Missouri. (NPR)

>> Listen to the potential first lady’s speech.

Hillary Clinton will speak today, as the party tries to usethe convention to unite support behind Obama. (NPR)

But some of Clinton’s supporters came to Denver to cast a vote for her. A roll-call vote tomorrow will allow delegates supporting Obama’s former rival to be heard. (NPR)
Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray plans to vote for Senator Clinton, but says she has encouraged the delegates from the state to support Obama. (WBUR)

Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. are among the high-profile delegates backing Obama. (NPR)

And, a look at how Republican presidential candidate John McCain is trying to stay in the spotlight this week. (NPR)

Plus,a study on jokes targeting the candidates. (NPR)

On Point’s Denver coverage continues with a look at progressives versus “Blue Dog” conservatives inside the Democratic Party. (WBUR)

Barack Obama stopped in America’s Dairyland on his way to Denver today. (NPR)

The barbeque rally at Eau Claire’s Rod and Gun park hinted at the candidate’s main objective going into the Democratic National Convention: woo blue-collar voters. (AP)

With just days to go before the Democratic convention, pollsters check in with likely voters in the battleground states that may decide the presidential election. (NPR) (more…)

The presidential candidates still have not announced their vice presidential running mates. There is speculation Barack Obama will announce his choice by Friday. (NPR) (more…)

From Boston.com’s “Political Intelligence: “Barack Obama, neck-and-neck with Hillary Clinton in Iowa, has now surged into a tie in New Hampshire as well, according to a new poll.”

John Dickerson detects a hint of panic in the Clinton camp in their calling out the big guns to stump for Hillary in the Nutmeg State: “With each minute, the Obama camp is locking in the swarms of new voters who attended Oprah’s rallies. That’s where the momentum is right now, and you can hear it in the beleaguered voices of the Clinton team. There was grumbling that the crowds at Bill Clinton’s event were smaller than expected. Staffers and advisers make the occasional resigned statements about the wisdom of Iowa voters who can’t be swayed by reason from their foolhardy decision to vote for the dreamer.”

And on the Republican side, as the GOP candidates head into their final debate in Iowa before that state’s caucuses, a Rasmussen daily Presidential Tracking Poll documents the Mike Huckabee surge. Not only is Huckabee in a statistical deadheat with Giuliani in a national poll, but the erstwhile Baptist preacher tops Romney by at least 16 percentage points in Iowa. On Point spoke to experts and watchers about what’s behind Huckabee’s sudden surge.