Democratic National Convention news stories on Newser

Charlotte Looking Like Worse and Worse DNC Pick

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:00:00 CDT

The Democratic National Convention could be meeting on enemy territory come September. The state that flipped for Barack Obama last election, making him the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state in more than 30 years, is increasingly at odds with the White House. North Carolina just banned gay...

Thousands Demand Dems Yank DNC From N. Carolina

Kevin Spak — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:50:15 CDT

Thousands of angry progressives are demanding the DNC pull the Democratic National Convention out of Charlotte in protest of North Carolina's vote to amend its constitution to ban same-sex marriage. A Change.org petition advocating the move has already drawn more than 27,000 signatures, and the same sentiment is...

Charlotte Training Cops for Riot Duty Ahead of DNC

Kevin Spak — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:52:05 CDT

Apparently, Charlotte is expecting trouble when the Democratic National Convention comes to town—or at least preparing for the possibility. Charlotte’s police department is already stocking up on riot gear and training officers in riot-control techniques in preparation for the event, WSOC TV reports. Though the city already has a...

Democrats Bet on South, Pick Charlotte for 2012

John Johnson — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:57:05 CST

Democrats have picked Charlotte, NC, as the site of the 2012 convention, which the AP sees as a signal that the Obama campaign intends to fight hard to retain the gains it made in traditional GOP territory in 2008. Obama became the first Democrat to take the state since 1976,...

Palin Pick Parrots Obama

M. Morris — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:30:00 CDT

A congressional candidate from Idaho has the backing of Sarah Palin but a taste for the rhetoric of Barack Obama. A fellow Idaho Republican—not even an opponent, but a candidate for state senate—has released an attack ad contrasting Vaughn Ward's announcement of his candidacy with then-state senator Obama's...

Obama Speech Takes on Defensive Edge

Nick McMaster — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:23:00 CST

One of President Obama's longest-running, most-used rhetorical standbys is the earnest phrase "let me be clear." It cropped up in his national debut speech at the 2004 convention, was deployed throughout the campaign, and continues. But let me be clear—Obama's use of the phrase has changed. During the campaign,...

Woodstock Was a 'Nightmare'

Harry Kimball — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:25:02 CDT

Mark Hosenball of Newsweek was at Woodstock, and not only did he not have a good time, but he can’t quite figure out how we’ve “transformed a chaotic mudfest into an epic pageant of peace and love.” Hosenball reminisces about the “massive, teeming, squalid mess” and its “traffic jams, torrential...

'Rednecks' Endorse Obama

Nick McMaster — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:27:05 CDT

Two self-described "rednecks" from the South are on a mission to help elect the nation's first black president. AFP looks at the efforts of the Missouri senior citizens who are defying stereotype with their tounge-in-cheek “Rednecks for Obama” campaign. Their banner drew big crowds at last week's debate, plus a...

Mac Bounces to 3-Point Lead Over Obama

Laurel Jorgensen — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:36:35 CDT

John McCain is leading Barack Obama by 48% to 45% in the latest Gallup poll, McCain's highest level of support since early May, Politico reports. Both candidates earned an expected convention bounce, but McCain’s boost was more immediate. Obama was ahead 49% to 43% among registered voters before the Republican...