AP - Prepared remarks from Sen. Joe Biden, Barack Obama's runningmate, for his address at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday in Denver, as released by the Obama campaign:

In this election, Latinos are an important constituency group, and Barack Obama is firmly committed to the issues that are important to the Latino community. Take a moment and watch this video. It highlights the efforts of Latinos around the country in building our grassroots movement.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is tightening the reins on campaign speeches and stressing that speakers emphasize a rags-to-riches theme.

AP - Sen. Joe Biden went before the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday to make the case for Barack Obama's presidential bid. Biden, selected as Obama's running mate, has offered different messages in the past.

Former President Clinton has pledged to cheering Democratic National Convention delegates to strongly support Barack Obama's campaign for the White House.

 

Bloomberg - Aug. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama became the first black in American history to win the nomination of a major political party as Democrats formally named him by acclaim as their candidate for president.

In a departure from the past and aided by the Internet, they respond to major speeches, keeping the heat on. The tables are expected to turn next week.

Moments after the advance text of Hillary Rodham Clinton's convention speech was released Tuesday night, Republican operatives inside a cramped room in an office building just west of the Democratic National Convention began to pore over it.

8:22 PM (local) -- The biggest moment of the night is about to happen: Senator Joe Biden will step up to the podium any minute to accept the Democratic Party's nomination to be Vice President of the United States. Joe is considered by many to be the most knowledgeable foreign policy expert in the U.S. Senate. A vocal critic of George Bush's mishandling of the war in Iraq, Joe's international stature will help Barack restore our standing and reputation in the world.

He'll talk about his journey from working class Scranton to the Senate - a journey that he took without ever forgetting his roots and the struggle that working families face. Senator Biden will also explain who Barack won't just repair the damage of the last eight years, but will stand with the middle class on every issue form jobs and wages to health care and retirement savings.

Joe's speech is one you're not going to want to miss.

7:45 PM (local) -- Bill Clinton just electrified the convention with his full-throated endorsement of Barack Obama and his plan to restore our standing in the world. Bill made it clear that Barack is "ready to lead," and "ready to be President." We've got a lot more coming up tonight, make sure you stay tuned to the blog and the convention.

6:58 PM (local) -- A few minutes from now, former President Bill Clinton will deliver an address to the assembled delegates and Americans everywhere. One of the most beloved figures in American politics, Bill Clinton presided over an incredibly prosperous decade in American history. He also knows full well the challenges and choices that face our nation's chief executive. President Clinton will talk about why Barack Obama is the right person to lead America.

As president, Bill Clinton helped grow the middle class, and lifted millions out of poverty. The years of his presidency were marked by peace and prosperity. President Clinton knows well what's at stake in this election, and he's going to make America's choice very clear.

He'll lay out the choice we face on foreign policy: Barack Obama's plan to responsibly end the war in Iraq and finish the fight in Afghanistan, or John McCain's plan to stay in Iraq indefinitely.

If you haven't been watching the convention yet, now is the time to tune in.

6:40 PM (local) -- Delegates in the convention hall will soon be hearing from Xiomara Rodriguez of Nevada. A 20-year veteran of the Coast Guard, she is also a grandmother and small business owner. Xiomara believes that Barack Obama will ensure every soldier and veteran in America is properly taken care of by the government, and that small business owners are protected in today's turbulent economy.

Before the Nevada caucus, Xiomara lent her voice to the campaign, asking over 4,000 Nevadans to sign pledge cards for Barack. A proud member of Bikers for Obama, Xio is also one of our bilingual volunteers. Read more about her story here.

6:09 PM (local) -- Michele Jones of Washington, D.C. is about to speak. A former enlisted member of the U.S. Army, she will also speak on behalf of military servants and their families. Prior to her retirement, Michele was the highest ranking enlisted woman in the Army. She is also the first woman to serve as Command Sergeant Major of the Army Reserve.

5:40 PM (local) -- Just a little bit ago, Senator Hillary Clinton graciously moved to suspend the roll call of the states and nominate Barack Obama for President of the United States by acclamation. All the votes of the delegates will still be counted, and Barack is now officially our party's nominee for president.

Now, Mark Docherty of Michigan is addressing the convention. A former member of the U.S. Army and a fireman in the Hazardous Materials Division, Mark understands the importance of having government support for critical services. He believes that from infrastructure funding to ending the war in Iraq, Barack Obama will be a president that all Americans can rely on.

Mark is also active in his local firefighters' union. He says of Barack, "He has a record of supporting the issues that are important to firefighters, It's especially important in Michigan, where (local government) revenues are dropping. That means we lose equipment, manpower and services." To read more about Mark, check out this story in the Detroit News.

3:37 PM (local) -- Just a moment ago, Michael Wilson of Florida stood before the assembled delegates to nominate Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's nominee for President of the United States of America. A lifelong Republican and Air Force medic, he is a veteran of the war in Iraq. Mike is inspired by Senator Obama's courage, sound judgement, and determination to restore our country's standing in the world. Michael believes that Barack Obama reflects "what America is, and what America needs."

In September of last year, Michael shared a meal with Barack in Nashua, New Hampshire. Click here to read about what they discussed.

Barack's nomination will be seconded by Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado, Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama, and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz of Florida.

3:24 PM (local) -- In just a moment, a speech nominating Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's nominee for President of the United States of America will be given.  It will be followed by three seconding speeches.

3:00 PM (local) -- The gavel is about to come down on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Tonight, Democrats will come together to nominate Barack Obama and Joe Biden to be the next President and Vice President of the United States.

Tonight's speakers will focus on Barack's plan to secure America's future through a new, tough foreign policy that isn't beholden to either party. Instead, Barack and Joe Biden offer a strong, smart, American foreign policy that makes us more secure at home and advances our interests in the world.

The speakers tonight come from all walks of life, but they all share Barack's vision of making America stronger and safer. We'll continue to highlight the voices of people who have empowered this campaign - regular Americans from across the country. They know that John McCain will only bring more of the same failed foreign policy that has left us isolated in the world and they're joining with Barack in calling for change.

The highlight of the evening will of course be Senator Joe Biden's acceptance of the Democratic Party's nomination for Vice President. Joe brings to the ticket both his incredible experience with foreign policy gained as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his down-to-earth working-class roots from his Irish Catholic upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He'll share his personal journey with the American people, and explain how Barack Obama has demonstrated the judgment we need in our Commander-in-Chief.

Also speaking this evening is former President Bill Clinton, who will discuss the success brought by his term in office and the stark choice that Americans now face: Barack Obama's new, stronger foreign policy, or four more years of George W. Bush in the guise of John McCain.

Tonight is, like the last two nights, a different kind of convention. America will hear from a former President to average citizens struggling just to get by. Watch a live stream of the proceedings on DemConvention.com, and keep checking back here at the HQ blog for important updates.

that's why I am convinced that Mr. Obama does not need to fundamentally change his message or strategy to win over the undecideds (though a few of the refinements being suggested would be helpful). He mostly just needs to be himself -- or to be more precise, to be more of himself.