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A busy first day at the convention

By Amanda Montee, Special to the Beacon

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 August 2008 )

Blogging from the convention

Hello! My name is Amanda Montee. I am a Missouri at-large delegate, and I am pledged to Sen. Barack Obama. I am from St. Joseph, but I attend the University of Kansas where I plan to graduate this May with a Bachelor's degree in political science. Next fall I hope to attend law school.

My name may be familiar to you. My mother, Susan Montee, is the state auditor.

The first time I saw Obama speak was when he visited Kansas City to campaign for Sen. Claire McCaskill. I support Obama for president because I know Obama can bring about the changes in Washington that we desperately need. I believe that Obama's progressive policies will provide us with solutions to our economic and energy problems; and they will also restore our reputation around the world. We need a leader is that person.

I am happy to be representing Missouri in Denver and look forward to sharing my experiences there with you.

Editor's Note: Come back to the Beacon throughout the day and evening during the Democratic convention to get updates from bloggers and our reporter, Robert Joiner. You'll get similar coverage and blogging from the Republican convention.

Monday August 25, 2008

10 a.m.

Today is the first day of the convention. I am so excited! I got to Denver Friday evening.

The Missouri delegation met at 8 this morning. We heard from Missouri's Democratic Party chairman, John Temporiti, who emphazised unity and a great beginning to the convention. He then introduced Sen. Claire McCaskill and U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay; both spoke about Barack Obama. McCaskill stressed Sen. John McCain's support of President Bush's policies and the inability of those policies to help the people of Missouri. McCaskill told us about her faith in Obama to help Missourians and her belief that Missouri will elect Obama president in November.

10:30 p.m.

I just returned to the hotel where the Missouri delegation is staying. This afternoon I attended the Unconventional Women event at the Denver Performing Arts Center. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi spoke at the event. She talked about balancing family and a career. She also talked about being a woman in Congress and the difficulties that come with it. Pelosi encouraged the women in the audience to pursue their goals and to challenge gender stereotypes.

This story is part of the Beacon's coverage of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. To read the rest of our stories, click Convention Coverage.

Tonight the convention was very special for me and other Missouri delegates because our senator, Claire McCaskill, was a headline speaker! And she was great! My favorite part of Claire's speech was when she talked about how Missouri is at the center of the issues of this election. We can see the problems with the current administration and the need for change. I also thought that it was very nice that McCaskill's children were given the opportunity to introduce her. They were great on stage as well!

Another highlight of my evening was when President Jimmy Carter sat down in the row in front of me. I waved at him with another Missouri delegate, Linda Nolan, and he blew us a kiss!! Unfortunately, I was unable to get a picture with him because he was surrounded by Secret Service. But I will remember this even without a picture!

The atmosphere at the convention was exciting and all of the speeches were great. I can't wait until tomorrow!!!

Amanda Montee is blogging from the Democratic National Convention. To reach her, contact Beacon issues and politics editor Susan Hegger.

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Editors' Picks

President
- World riveted by Obama-McCain contest: Europeans had a sense of the momentous change that was about to unfold. | AP/Spokane Spokesman Review
- In Dixville Notch, it's Obama 15, McCain 6: N.H. village is traditionally first in the nation to report election results. | Chicago Tribune
- New Troopergate report clears Palin: The state Personnel Board-sanctioned investigation contradicts the earlier findings by a special counsel hired by the state Legislature. | Anchorage Daily News
- World is watching Obama-McCain race: Recent opinion polls from more than 70 nations favor the Democrat three-to-one. | AP/Miami Herald
Nation
- State propositions run the gamut: Same-sex marriage, animal rights, physician-assisted suicide and more were decided by voters nationwide on Tuesday. | AP/Washington Times
- How they voted: A national exit poll shows Obama did better among women than men, better among young than old, better among Jews than Protestants. | New York Times
- Democrats pick up at least 19 House seats: The gain builds on the 30 seats the party captured two years ago. | AP
- Democrats gain at least five Senate seats: Several races - Minnesota, Alaska, Georgia and Oregon - were still too close to call on Wednesday morning. But the Dems appeared unlikely to gain attain a filibuster-proof 60 seats. | New York Times
Region
- Palin campaigns in Jefferson City: Outside the Missouri Capitol, she told a cheering crowd, “Will you please hire us, Missouri?” | Jefferson City News Tribune
- Biden makes one more Missouri visit: In Lee's Summit Monday morning, he criticized the Republicans' "Karl Rove" brand of politics. | Kansas City Star
- Missouri voter rolls show disparities: More than a dozen Missouri counties have more registered voters on their rolls than they do voting age adults, with St. Louis County topping the list. | AP/Southeast Missourian
- How late will the vote counters have to work? Study puts Missouri on list of states that have a high probability of running into big problems on Election Day. | Boston Globe

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