Thursday: All those in favor, say "aye"

Oregon delegation members' voices were hoarse this morning at our breakfast at 7.

Sen. Clinton released her delegates early in the day yesterday. We watched U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley stride to the podium on the convention floor in the afternoon. He turned to look at the Oregon delegates and waved before delivering his remarks. Our delegation let House Speaker Merkley know we were watching his back. He saw our pom-poms and "This is Merkley Country" signs, and he heard the hoots and hollers. Merkley's back must have smarted from the hearty slaps he received after rejoining the Oregon delegation following his energetic speech.

Merkley's campaign office in Medford at 40 S. Central should be flooded with volunteers now that summer is quickly coming to an end. Ian Foster, a South Medford High School graduate, has returned to his hometown to help run Merkley's Jackson County campaign.

Yesterday's roll-call vote, clearly orchestrated, allowed the New York delegation to put Sen. Obama over the top in the number of delegate votes needed to declare him the Democratic nominee for president. Early on, the Arkansas delegation signaled that unity was in the air when their delegates voted unanimously for Obama. I found myself wishing the Stevie Wonder song "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" had been played. Sen. Joe Biden's speech accepting the party's nomination for vice president was a truly emotional barn burner.

Delegates "get to" pay their way to the convention and pay their own expenses. One enterprising Oregon delegate I talked with managed to find enough friends and family to assist her with her expenses. I have watched delegates buy hundreds of T-shirts, buttons and other memorabilia. Since I packed four shirts and a couple of pairs of pants in a very small carry-on bag, I won't be lugging much campaign swag home.

The hottest Obama buttons are designed and made by a young single mother of two children from Bend. A generous Oregon delegate from Bend paid for the artist's peddler's license. The buttonmaker drove herself to Denver and set up shop on a street corner downtown. Everyone asks us where we purchased the elegant Obama pins. You can check out the pins yourself at ViaDelia.com and support a struggling artist.

I have to confess walking in 90-degree heat downtown finally got to me, so I paid for a rickshaw ride. The young driver who peddled me to the convention center offered me a choice of paying for the ride or giving him a generous tip, some forced choice, heh!

Logistics, logistics, logistics. Traveling to Obama's acceptance speech is going to be a challenge today. We have been instructed to wear hats, bring no more than 2 ounces of sunscreen and to remember water bottles may not be taken into the stadium. Security will be strictly enforced. Gee, I thought the security to get into the convention was tight, but we've been warned about long security lines. I just hope we don't damage the playing field tonight. Today, on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a Dream" speech, Americans will have the opportunity to see for themselves our candidate.

Today I looked at the picture of the famous birthday celebration picture of John McCain being presented with a birthday cake on his 69th birthday from President Bush while New Orleans laid underwater. Biden's line in last night's speech, "The choice in this election is clear, these times require more than a good soldier, they require a wise leader, a leader who can deliver change," sums up why many Americans will not vote for more of McSame.

Back in Medford tomorrow, and I can hardly wait.