Barring any weather emergencies, the 2012 Democratic National Convention is set to follow the Republican Convention and begin next Monday, September 3, in Charlotte, NC. With nearly 6,000 delegates in attendance, President Obama and Vice President Biden will each accept the party’s nomination for re-election in November.
This year, the convention is touted to be “the most open and accessible in history.” The public is invited to participate in caucuses and councils during the four day event and once again will have the opportunity to attend Obama’s acceptance speech on Day Four of the convention. Recognizing that grassroots and empowered Americans are foundational to the success of the campaign, the event is focused on making sure that individuals have a way to become engaged in the political process both in Charlotte and beyond.
On Labor Day, the convention will kick off with CarolinaFest 2012 before officially being called to order on Tuesday at Time Warner Cable Arena. On Wednesday delegates will vote for the Democratic Party candidate for President of the United States, and on Thursday President Obama will accept the nomination at Bank of America Stadium.
While program details and the order of speakers have yet to be released, the names of officials and leaders headlining the convention have already been made known. Those tuning in Tuesday through Thursday can look forward to speeches from Former President Bill Clinton, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Georgetown Law School Graduate Sandra Fluke, U.S. Senator John Kerry, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Cecile Richards, among others.
For more information on the convention, visit the DNC website. You can follow the convention live on its dedicated YouTube page, or you can tune in to the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) 10/9c for exclusive coverage.
The Republican and Democratic Conventions mark the end of the primary election season and the official start of the general election. Keep tuned in to CivicSource for more election coverage through November.
