Aug 28, 2008 3:00 pm US/Eastern
Barack Obama About To Make History
DENVER (CBS) ―
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The drama of his long, emotional primary struggle against Hillary Rodham Clinton behind him at last, Obama's long-awaited convention speech will propel him into a tough sprint to Election Day, a mere nine weeks away.
Emmanuel Dunand / AFP/Getty Images
It is the culmination of the Democratic convention, and the culmination of a life long dream for some. Sen. Barack Obama is about to accept his party's presidential nomination.
At mile high stadium, on a stage meant to evoke ancient Greece, the birth place of democracy, Obama will deliver his acceptance speech.
It is more than history in the making, it's a dream come true for millions of Americans who thought it would never happen in their lifetime.
For some, the day began with a unity breakfast to marking the 45th anniversary of the march on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous 'I Have A Dream' speech.
For many Americans, Obama symbolizes that dream - the first African-American to have a shot at the highest office in the land
"He's an agent of change," said Charlie King, of the National Action Network. "He's going to make a historic difference not just in our lives, but in the lives of our children."
"This is real history for real," added Rev. Al Sharpton. "This is real history, this is no hype."
As the first African-American to accept the Democratic nomination for president, he not only makes history, but carries the hopes and dreams of many, from all backgrounds.
"I don't think that the nomination of Sen. Obama or even the election in and of itself fulfills the dream, but it gets us close. It shows people can rise above race and judge people by their character," Rev. Sharpton said.
Obama practiced his speech Wednesday night. It means much to him to accept the nomination on the 45th anniversary of the march on Washington as his party honors the past and looks to the future.
"I think we're going to remember what happened 45-years ago with the march on Washington, but more important, talk about what we need to be doing going forward," Rev. Sharpton said.
New Yorkers are pinning their hopes and dreams on Obama and his call for change.
"Obama has to show the American people that he understands the plight of middle-class struggles, and he must show them that he has policy ideas that make their lives better and that he has the ability to get it done," Sen. Schumer told CBS 2 HD.
In Denver, there may still be an internal rift he needs to address.
"I just want him to re-enforce everything he said. I mean, I'm already a believer, I'm as supporter, but I think her needs to bring those that are on the fence in," said Renee Ortiz, a delegate from Central Islip.
"It gives us hope. It gives us the opportunity to realize that we've come through the struggle in terms of the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, but it was not in vain," added Charles Steele Jr., of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Others scheduled to speak are members of the King family, and former vice president Al Gore, but they will just be the warm up acts for Obama.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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