Changes

The convention schedule had to be altered due to the upcoming landfall of [[Hurricane Gustav]]. The first day almost entirely focused on raising money for Hurricane relief.  This led to a shortened three day convention instead of four and there was some shuffling of who was speaking on which day to accommodate the suddenly shortened time span.  In a surprise, George W. Bush was only delivered an eight minute speech by satellite.  In another surprise Sarah Palin's speech was watched by as many people as saw Obama give his acceptance speech on the closing night of the Democratic convention, as over 40 million people tuned in.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26548482/</ref>  She was considered the highlight of the convention, even surpassing John McCain's speech the next day, and was noted for doing an exceptional job.  Recognizing the strong asset that they have in her, the Republicans made reference to her many times on the last day of the convention.  McCain, not known for being comfortable reading prepared speeches in a convention hall, delivered a solid speech.  While Obama continued to enjoy a lead in the polls, it changed quickly thereafter to a slight McCain-Palin edge.  The Republican convention more than canceled out a very powerful Democratic convention.

The convention schedule had to be altered due to the upcoming landfall of [[Hurricane Gustav]]. The first day almost entirely focused on raising money for Hurricane relief.  This led to a shortened three day convention instead of four and there was some shuffling of who was speaking on which day to accommodate the suddenly shortened time span.  In a surprise, George W. Bush was only delivered an eight minute speech by satellite.  In another surprise Sarah Palin's speech was watched by as many people as saw Obama give his acceptance speech on the closing night of the Democratic convention, as over 40 million people tuned in.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26548482/</ref>  She was considered the highlight of the convention, even surpassing John McCain's speech the next day, and was noted for doing an exceptional job.  Recognizing the strong asset that they have in her, the Republicans made reference to her many times on the last day of the convention.  McCain, not known for being comfortable reading prepared speeches in a convention hall, delivered a solid speech.  While Obama continued to enjoy a lead in the polls, it changed quickly thereafter to a slight McCain-Palin edge.  The Republican convention more than canceled out a very powerful Democratic convention.

[[Progressives for Obama]] shares a huge membership overlap with the Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS), a group of former [[Students for a Democratic Society]] (SDS) members and sympathisers. MDS re-founded SDS in 2006 for a new generation of college students and functions as a support group for SDS's 130 college chapters. Independent researcher Trevor Louden refers to MDS as "the brains behind the SDS brawn."  The reconstituted SDS was very prominent in the violence at the Republican National Convention at St Paul.<ref>[http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2008/09/obama-file-30-former-terrorists-bill.html Obama File 30: Former Terrorists [[Bill Ayers]] and [[Bernardine Dohrn]] Involved in Key Pro-Obama Organisation,] Trevor Louden, New Zeal blog, September 21, 2008.</ref>

[[Progressives for Obama]] shares a huge membership overlap with the Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS), a group of former [[Students for a Democratic Society]] (SDS) members and sympathisers. MDS re-founded SDS in 2006 for a new generation of college students and functions as a support group for SDS's 130 college chapters. Independent researcher Trevor Louden refers to MDS as "the brains behind the SDS brawn."  The reconstituted SDS was very prominent in the violence at the Republican National Convention at St Paul.<ref>[http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2008/09/obama-file-30-former-terrorists-bill.html Obama File 30: Former Terrorists [[Bill Ayers]] and [[Bernardine Dohrn]] Involved in Key Pro-Obama Organisation,] Trevor Louden, New Zeal blog, September 21, 2008.</ref> The founder of [[ACORN]], Wade Rathke, denouncd<ref>[http://chieforganizer.org/2009/01/31/common-ground-infiltrator/ Common Ground Infiltrator,] Wade Rathke: Chief Organizer Blog, January 31, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2010.</ref> an FBI informer who foiled a [[terrorist]] plot to kill delegates at the Republican Convention.<ref>[http://spectator.org/blog/2009/09/13/acorn-founder-wade-rathke-want ACORN Founder Wade Rathke Wanted Terrorist Attack on Republican Convention to Succeed,] Matthew Vadum, American Spectator, 9.13.09 </ref>

==Vice Presidential Candidates==

==Vice Presidential Candidates==