One man's dream

45 years ago to the very day, a man had a dream. Yesterday that dream was far surpassed when the first African American presidential nominee, Barack Obama took to the stage and officially accepted his nomination as Democrat candidate for President of the United States.

Before 84,000 spectators, many of whom had queued for hours to get in, his speech took head on the criticisms both domestic and foreign aimed at him by the Republican Party. Widely accepted as a skilled orator, his speech was less lyrical and much more meat and bones as he introduced himself and went through his own manifesto. This has been a highly charged, emotional week with tears, ovations, whooping and flag waving everywhere, underpinning a carefully prepared and deftly organised display of unity. The anniversary of Martin Luther King Jnr's speech was also not lost on anyone and Barack used part of the speech to underline his candidacy as a source of inspiration.

The Republican Party Convention kicks off next week.

There's no business like Showbusiness

This has been a spectacular week in Denver. Back this side of the Atlantic, we're not used to so much broadway emotion for what is a political rally.   The US Democrat convention is in town and from Senator Edward Kennedy, recovering from recent surgery for a brain tumour,  to Mr and Mrs Clinton's appearances, there is not a dry eye in the house and standing ovations are commonplace.  It's not what you say but how you say it, never was there a better description to this week's speeches.  Both Bill and Hilary have given their convention speeches and whilst noone doubted them finally coming back into the fold and putting their support firmly behind Barack Obama, the key question was tone not content.    In what is a masterclass in maintaining face, Senator Hilary Clinton,  not known for her rhetorical talents, delivered a class act, see above.  Amidst all the schmaltz, the razzamataz, the theatre and the minutely prepared spontaneity, she managed to hold her own and at the same time, plant a marker flag for the next election, should Barack not get in.  This was followed by former President Bill Clinton, who brought the house down.  If you listened carefully and read between the lines, whilst he stated that Barack was ready to be president and that he would be working to get him elected he also thanked 'his' candidate, Hilary, for an excellent campaign for her outstanding work and her commitment to the people of the US .  You'd be forgiven for thinking this was a future campaign speech.....

Barack gives his speech tonight and has a tough double act to follow. Tensions behind the scenes still run high between the two supporter camps, so he'll need to pull out the stops.