WILL FERNANDEZ
Election 2008 Coverage
Posted Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008

AS I REFLECT on last week's Democratic National Convention, the Republicans and John McCain have moved the story to their vice-presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. It's a great reminder of the speed of news cycles and political focus.

A year ago neither Barack Obama nor McCain seemed to be the likeliest prospects for their parties' nominations. Hillary Clinton had a huge lead last August, and the Republican contest was viewed as a close battle between Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson.

On the eve of the Democratic Convention, their were a lot of unanswered questions. Who would be Obama's running mate? Would the Hillary Clinton delegates support Obama?

Would Bill Clinton create problems and further fail to endorse the Democratic ticket? Would protesters get in the way of a successful convention? And could Obama's acceptance speech live up to the hype?

All of those questions were answered during the course of the week, and the Democrats closed ranks and came together under the banner of unity.

People in downtown Denver put on political faces to tell people to get out and vote. Gargoyle photos by Will Fernandez (click to enlarge)

Mike Fernandez and Will Fernandez bumping fists at Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, last Wednesday, Aug. 27. (click to enlarge)

The selection of Joe Biden as the vice presidential nominee was well received as he not only brought significant experience and foreign relations knowledge to the ticket but a story and character that should appeal to working-class Americans.

The Clintons exceeded expectations and not only didn't embarrass the ticket but pledged to work hard for it in the general election.

Obama delivered what many have already deemed as one of the best political speeches in sometime, which better defined his story and his agenda.

It also answered questions raised by detractors and challenged the Republicans. It was focused and it was inspirational. It seemed to galvanize the party faithful.

The euphoria coming out of the convention seemingly impacted a Gallup poll, with Obama jumping out to an eight-point lead over McCain.

But it might be short-lived with the culmination tonight of the Republican Convention in Minnesota and the surprising selection of Palin as McCain's running mate. In her speech Wednesday night, Palin was firm to her point and quick to attack Obama for everything he stands for.

The Republicans seem to have been able to pull almost seamlessly from the wake of Hurricane Gustav, and they have mobilized their convention crowds behind the McCain-Palin ticket.

Wednesday night saw powerful speeches by Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Giuliani, and Palin herself, in which they praised McCain as the right man for the job who will be able to preserve and help rebuild our country.

The senator from Arizona has the most important speech of his long political career ahead of him tonight, when he will address the nation accepting his party's nomination for president of the United States.

Expectations will be high, since he will have to deliver a speech that appeals to his base yet allows him to reach independents. It will be a difficult task, but you never know what McCain will be able to pull out of his political bag of tricks.