Democrats Gather in Denver for Convention

25 August 2008

Tens of thousands of people are in the western U.S. city of Denver, Colorado, for Monday's start of the Democratic National Convention.

Sen. Barack Obama and his vice presidential running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, appear together in Springfield, Ill., 23 Aug 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is to be confirmed as his party's nominee during the four-day convention, which marks the official start of campaigning for the general election. He is expected to accept the nomination on Thursday, the last night of the event.

His pick for vice president, Delaware Senator Joe Biden, is to address the convention Wednesday. Senator Obama introduced Biden as his running mate at a rally Saturday in Springfield, in the midwest U.S. state of Illinois, Obama's home state.

In a U.S. television news interview Sunday, senior Obama advisor Robert Gibbs praised Biden for his foreign policy experience and ability to serve as president should the need arise.

Republican candidate John McCain's campaign has questioned the selection. Senator McCain's campaign released a television ad that includes previous remarks by Biden in which he said Obama is not ready to be president.

Another McCain campaign ad says Obama passed over his former Democratic rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, for vice president because she pointed out Obama's flaws during the Democratic primary race.

But Senator Clinton expressed support for the Obama-Biden ticket Saturday, describing Biden as "an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant."

McCain may announce his selection for running mate during a rally on August 29, three days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota.