The U.S. Democratic Party's National Convention opens later on Monday in Denver, Colorado, where later this week the first-ever
African-American candidate will accept his party's nomination for president of
the United States.
One-time U.S. democratic presidential hopeful Hillary
Clinton spoke ahead of the convention this (Monday) morning, calling on
her supporters to unite behind Barack Obama.
Clinton urged her supporters
to, in her words, "work as hard for Barack Obama as you did for
me."
Senator Clinton also denounced recent ads from the Republican
candidate, John McCain's campaign, which portray the Democratic party as deeply
divided.
Meanwhile, a recent survey of Clinton's supporters shows one
third plan to vote for either John McCain or a third-party candidate -- rather
than for Senator Obama.
Resentment among many
Clinton backers still remains coming into the convention, although the U.S.
Senator and former first lady has said she will release her delegates in a
gesture of unity.
Clinton is to deliver a keynote address at the
convention on Tuesday evening.
Senator Obama's wife, Michelle, will
deliver this evening's keynote address, formally introducing her husband to the
nation.
Delegates will also pay tribute to ailing Democratic Senator Ted
Kennedy, who is suffering from brain cancer. He and his family are to attend the
convention, though it is not yet clear if he will speak.
The convention
consists of four days of rallies, speeches and meetings, capped by Obama's
acceptance speech on Thursday.
In this program , Rehan Reza , an activist from the Democratic party who is attending the Convention predicts the deliberations in the conventiion
The Republican Party holds its national
convention next week.