TRAIL BLAZERS

A few folks still believe she's in the running, even if as a dark horse.

But the senior U.S. senator from Texas appears primed for a gubernatorial race in 2010. She'd like to leave Washington, D.C.

And, well, there's this, too.

It appears Mr. McCain may make his vice presidential announcement as soon as Thursday night. Regardless, he has a rally in Dayton, Ohio, scheduled for Friday, at which it's believed he'll appear with his running mate.

It's the convention's last night in the Pepsi Center, and they just closed it with a huge bang - and the scene looks like what you would expect out of a normal convention closing night.

Minus the balloons, of course.

Obama's remarks below:

Everyone else was there: vice presidential nominee Joe Biden and his family, President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama.

So it was hardly a surprise when Barack Obama appeared on the stage at the Pepsi Center at the end of Mr. Biden's vice presidential acceptance speech, bringing a delighted roar from the packed crowd of enthusiastic Democrats.

"I want everybody to now understand why I am so proud to have Joe Biden...and the whole Biden family on this journey with me to take America back," the Democratic presidential nominee declared.

"I think it has gone pretty well so far," he said. He said he thought his wife Michelle "kicked it off pretty well" and added, "If I'm not mistaken, Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night." And he said Mr. Clinton "reminded us what it was like when you have a president who actually puts people first."

And he said he wanted to explain why Thursday night's acceptance speech will be held across the way in the far larger Invesco Field. "We're going to open up this convention to make sure that everone who wants to come can join in this effort to take America back," he said.

It was a smashing climax to the evening..
(Photo by Vernon Bryant/Dallas Morning News)

Introduced by Jill as a "very special surprise guest" Barack Obama just strode out. Unprecedented.

"I just wanted to come by - got something to say. I want everybody to know and understand why I am so proud to have Joe Biden and Jill Biden and Beau Biden and Mama Biden and the whole Biden family with me on this journey to take America back."

"I think this convention's gone pretty well, don't you think?"

"I think Michelle Obama did pretty well opening night, don't you think?"

"If i'm not mistaken Hillary Clinton rocked the house last night!" (Shot to a smiling Hillary and Bill.)

And a shout-out to Bill. More to come..
(Photo by Vernon Bryant/Dallas Morning News)

Now he's doing what he's expected to: Taking out hard after John McCain in an attack-dog way that he's kind of known for.

We have a contest going to see how many times he says the name John McCain. or McCain-Bush.

I guessed 21 or something like that. You?

This place got super quiet as Biden revisited his first speech as veep pick, talking about "questions as ordinary as they are profound" that people are discussing over their dinner table. You could hear the emotion in his voice, as it got quiet, and I swear a silence came over this crowd.

Then he made a little gaffe that a) the crowd loved and b) I'm betting the GOP won't add to their "Gaffe Watch" they've started on Biden.

"That's the America that George Bush has left us, and that's the Amerca we'll get if George .. excuse if John McCain gets elected!"

As people laughed in the crowd, Biden said, "Freudian slip! Freudian slip!"

His speech so far has been heavily, heavily about the economy, pounding on his upbringing in Scranton and on the "kitchen table" discussions.
(Photo by Vernon Bryant/Dallas Morning News)

Olympic gymnastics gold and silver medalist Shawn Johnson will lead the Pledge of Allegiance on Thursday at Invesco Field at Mile High, where Barack Obama will give is Democratic presidential nomination acceptance speech, the Associated Press is reporting.

Fellow gold/silver/bronze medalist Nastia Liukin, a Parker, Texas, resident, won't be there, so far as we know.

And while we aren't certain about Ms. Liukin's political leanings, Parker isn't exactly a bastian of liberalism.

That speech by Beau had him red-eyed, wiping his eyes, saying how proud he is of his family, his three kids.

And Jill: "The only one who makes me both breathless and speechless." Big laughs all around.

He starts off with a tribute to Bill and Hill. It's all just a big love fest.

"Since I've never been a man of few words, let me say this as simply as I can. Yes, yes I accept your nomination....!" Then something about vice president of America but the crowd was screaming too loud.

Back in 1992, Democratic vice presidential nominee Al Gore roused a Democratic Convention by getting it to join in telling the first Bush administration: "It's time for them to go."

And on Wednesday night, Joe Biden did something similar, denouncing a series of votes by Republican John McCain and then adding each time, "That's not change; that's more of the same."

By the time he reached the second of six such rejoinders, the packed crowd in the Pepsi Center was chanting along with the Delaware senator: "That's not change. That's more of the same."

Greeted by a sea of white on red placards bearing his name as he accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination, Mr. Biden lavished praise on presidential nominee Barack Obama before lighting into Mr. McCain.

"Like many of us, Barack worked his way up," he said. "He is the great American story."

Though he praised Mr. McCain as a friend whose "personal courage and heroism...still amaze me," he said that "I profoundly disagree with the direction that John wants to take this country."

And he noted that on a series of foreign policy issues, such as removing U.S. troops from Iraq, increasing forces in Afghanistan and talking with the leaders of Iran, "John McCain was wrong. Barack Obama was right."

This is the first time most of these people have ever seen Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware, and the first time a lot of them have really gotten to know much about him.

In an intro video, Barack Obama acknolwedged that he voted to give Bush the authority to start the war - a sore spot with supporters - but also pointed out how he has been a strong critic of the Administratin's "abuse of that power."

Biden on the film: "When you see the abuse of power, you've got to speak."

We're watching a short documentary by Steven Spielberg about the war in Iraq. The crowd is quiet, the screen flanked in electric blue and bright purple. It's the issue most near and dear to most Democrats' hearts.

Congressmen Chet Edwards - hereby known as "Capt. Short List" - just got done with a salute of vets, soldiers and families and praising Barack Obama's plan to get out of Iraq.

Closing line:

"As we watch this Stephen Spielberg film, let us remember that in the 21st century, we are the land of the free because we are still the home of the brave."
(Photo by Vernon Bryant/Dallas Morning News)

Now that didn't take long!

It took the Democratic Convention less than three minutes to race through the formalities nominating Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as Barack Obama's vice presidential running mate.

A brief nominating speech by a Delaware woman highlighted Mr. Biden's sponsorship of the Violence Against Women Act. Convention Chairman Nancy Pelosi then asked for a second, and scores of delegates shouted their approval.

Upon a further motion, the rules were suspended, and the delegates shouted their approval of the nomination by acclamation.

Played just after Bill Clinton left the stage: "Addicted to Love." Wonder what she thought.

Sen. John Kerry, the target of a staunch 'flip-flopper" attack by the GOP during his ill-fated 2004 run, just speechified about the differences between "John McCain, the Senator" and "John McCain the candidate."

Including, he said, his denunciation of Karl Rove during his attempt to win the nomination against Bush in 2000 - and what Kerry said is his embrace of what he called the "Swift Boat" style attacks of late against Obama.

Rep. Chet Edwards, the Waco Democrat who was a finalist in Barack Obama's vice presidential quest, got his consolation price Wednesday night, a high-profile speaking slot at the Democratic Convention.

Given an enthusiastic welcome by his fellow Texans, Mr. Edwards delivered a sharp critique of Republican nominee John McCain's record on aid for veterans in a Pepsi Center packed for speeches by Bill CLinton and the man who got the nod for No, 2, Joe Biden.

"I have the greatest respect for the military service and sacrifice of John McCain in the Vietnam War," Mr. Edwards said. "Yet, millions of veterans and Americans would be surprised and disappointed to find out that Senator McCain has received failing grades from some of our nation's most respected veterans' organizations."

Mr. Edwards, who sponsored a major increased in funding for veterans programs, said Mr. McCain "has repeatedly voted against health care funding and benefits for his fellow veterans. And if elected, his plan could lead to the rationing of veterans' health care. The fact is, our veterans can't afford more of the same from John McCain.

"Under Barack Obama, we'll have a president who will honor the service of every veteran, fully fund the VA, and respect their sacrifice by giving them the benefits they've earned," he said.
(Vernon Bryant/Dallas Morning News)

"We prevailed in an election in which the Republicans said I was too young and inexperienced to be Commander In Chief. Sound familiar?"

The crowd died out laughing because Clinton was undoubtedly one the most popular presidents in history, and that's what he's banking on tonight.

I keep forgetting how much Democrats LOVE them some Bill Clinton. Man. This place exploded when he walked out, screams, flags waving, "Don't Stop Thinkin About Tomorrow" - his theme song - blasting. He couldn't get them to stop. And you know he loved every minute of it.

"You know," he said, "I love this." (the crowd chuckles.)

"But I'm here to support Barack Obama. ... and I'm here to warm up the mic for Joe Biden, who as you will soon see, doesn't need any help from me."

THAT'S funny, as Biden has a rep for being long-winded.

"I love Joe Biden, and you will too."

Bill Clinton has come to the Pepsi Center and said the words Obama needed him to say, to end all that fuss and drama stemming from Clinton's frustration during the primaries that many voters didn't view Obama's relative inexperience as a problem.

"Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. ...Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States."

No other Democrat could offer a blessing like that.

We have great seats here in the Texas delegation section - don't let the placement fool you - and look who's chosen the platform in front of the delegation as their prime spot for broadcast?

Nickelodeon! How fun!.(Wait. You Can't Say That on Television!)

And here you have their newest on-air talent, Lily Collins - daughter of musician Phil Collins - who is either 18 or 22, differing reports.

Since my camera batteries are trapped in the press row and getting them would require elbowing my way through a crowd of Mardi Gras-ian proportions on the floor, I snapped this photo with my camera phone.

It was almost like old times at Wednesday night's Democratic Convention session as delegates gave a thunderous welcome to former President Bill Clinton as he came on stage to the strains of his old signature campaign song, "Don't Stop (Thinking about tomorrow.")

And he also invoked his old Arkansas home town, declaring that "If, like me, you still believe in a place called Hope, then join Hillary, Chelsea and me in making Barack Obama the next president of the United States."

The nation's 42nd president gave Mr. Obama the presidential seal of approval based on his own experience, pronouncing the 47-year-old Illinois senator "ready to be president of the United States."