Obama's speech already is drawing hordes to Invesco Field

It may be about six hours away, but hordes of reporters, camera crews and fervent Democrats are streaming into Denver's Invesco Field at Mile High for tonight's speech by presidential nominee Barack Obama.

A long line at one main gate already had formed by early afternoon outside the towering football stadium that is the home of the NFL's Denver Broncos, as various entertainers and pols completed their rehearsals and sound checks inside.

Stevie Wonder ran through several songs, including "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" backed by a crew of gospel-style backup singers. Sheryl Crow wailed out a rendition of her hit, "Every Day is a Winding Road." Also clearing her pipes for the evening was "American Idol" competitor and "Dream Girls" star Jennifer Hudson, while Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson lurked nearby. Perhaps contemplating a giant tumbling run after Obama's speech, as fireworks light the Denver sky?!

Al Gore gripped and grinned for photos at center stage, a round terraced platform of blue carpet that will be reserved only for the former vice president and for Obama. Lesser lights will deliver their remarks from podiums to the right and left of center stage.

And just how ostentatious do those faux Greek columns at the back of the stage (much mocked by Republicans this week) appear in person? Not very.

They are surrounded by American flags and jumbo television screens and promise to become even more obscure when night falls here. The GOP had suggested Obama was planning some sort of toga party. Dems countered that they modeled the set after John McCain's "seventh mansion."

Now that everybody is getting along, let the games begin!

-- James Rainey

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Comments

[Elspeth]

Designers from Britney Spears
Assure that when everyone hears
Obama a speakin
They’ll all start a freakin
In awe: The Messiah appears!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DeeTx]

Repubs are just jealous cause they have that boring non-inspiring cue-card reading McRobot.....yawn...

[Toon Moene]

Well, if he wants to top the 200,000+ in Berlin, they'd better hurry up.

From Europe, with love.

I'll hit my bed now, and see the results tomorrow.

Go Barack, go Joe ! Bring it on !

[DEM NOW IND]

The only people that care are at Invesco Field.

[cindy]

One would think the LA Times would at least proof read their article and use spell check.

[Bill]

"The only people that care are at Invesco Field."

Oh, and the person who took the time to post this! HA!

Nice try DEM NOW IND, er, I mean GOP ALL ALONG

[Terry]

I have voted Republican for forty years. When I heard Barack Obama's Convention Speech in 2004, I told my wife, "When that man runs for president, I am going to vote for him!" I have always supported the RNC, but no more. It is time for the young people to take a turn at running the country. When I was 14, I heard John Kennedy speak, and I understood his message, loud and clear. Barack Obama deserves a chance to lead the nation at a time that we really a strong leader who thinks of the little guy, the middle class, and our women and men in uniform. I like Obama!

[john]

Prepare to meet your new Messiah
The One you have been waiting for
Like a Greek God, he descends from his mansion in the sky
To deliver the multitudes into the Obama-nation
And to eliminate all distractions and irritations
The glorious future is now here, the Messiah is among you.
All hail the Lord Barack: Obama Messiah

[hms]

While we struggle with foreclosures and job losses, our politicians are spending MILLIONS on FUN!!!

Isn't the democratic party supposed to understand the pain of the people..

Change my A$$

[Chris Edwards]

Go Barack. It's time for a change that will transform our image in it's entirety here in the U.S.

[Republican For Obama and Biden]

I will not vote for my party this year, I am not a fool.

[Ron Sampson]

Exciting, for a change, to have a leader we can get enthused about! The only thing that bothers me are the mccain handlers belitting Senator Obama for drawing large crowds that enjoy hearing about our country's future. Embarassing- obviously Karl Rove at work, struggling to find a way to lessen the reality that only a few people ever show up to greet angry old mccain at his campaign stops....hey GOP, Paris Hilton doesn't get 200,000 foreign citizens to come out & here her talk on a hot day- & mr mccain would be lucky to draw 200!

[Scott]

Hey If McCain wants 200,000 like B.O. had in Berlin just do what he did. Throw a FREE CONCERT and give away FREE BEER.

[C. Scheer]

It seems interesting how the GOP wants to downplay the "celebrity" status of Barak, when it only transpired because of real celebrities that people admire, ie. Tom Hanks, Steven Speilberg, and Mat Damon back him. How about the fact that so many people are hungry for change they have to stage it at Mile High Stadium. Let's see George W. and Cheney bring as much energy and excitment for a plan of MUCH OF THE SAME.

[John Peabody]

Why isn't the media reporting that Britney Spear's former set designer built Obama's Invesco Temple (Bobby Allen). So the Republicans are not so wrong about Obama being a showman not an experienced statesman. Will the chore be signing when Obama appears "Hails to the King"?? Obama is just flat out a phoney.

[TJ Weldy]

Re: I will not vote for my party this year, I am not a fool.

Wow, nice to see a Republican voting for the Democratic party!

[ArtSpot]

HMS: Yes they are spending lots of money, but you know what, average Americans (in Denver) are benefiting for all that money spent. Did you donate money to Barack or DNC? If not, why worry about it. From your prospective, that means less money for Barack to spend against McSame.

Chill, relax.

[John Peabody]

Terry, I too voted for JFK, my first presidential vote. I have since become wiser, mature, more intelligent, and know that I made a big mistake with JFK; he did nothing worthwhile as our president except look good and had lots of extramarital affairs like all the Kennedys, from father to all his sons. Obama is a showman, not a statesman. Too bad that you are still spellbound by worthless words from the politicans. We need a leader who is loyal, honorable, patriatic, and has experience. That's not Obama. He spent too many years living in Muslim countries.

[Joe Lolstein, omnipotent]

Meanwhile republicans bring hurricanes to their conventions, justice and proof GOD IS A DEMOCRAT !

[confetti]

Did I hear you say,

"The only people that care are at Invesco Field."???

I don't know anyone not glued to the screen tonight. But you say you'll be sleeping it out. Hope you sleep thru voting day, too. Or were you bragging on casting an uninformed vote?
Let me throw a curve on Warren's admonition: Stay asleep!
Sheep are not franchised.

[Imaginary Obama]

"Dems countered that they modeled the set after John McCain's 'seventh mansion.'"

That is a priceless retort. If McCain is going to be Noun-Verb-POW to every criticism then the Dems are well within their right to be Noun-Verb-Ultra Rich Jerk.

The Repub's jealousy is downright delicious!

[Joe Rotes]

How can either party spend SO MUCH MONEY partying and living it up when the economy is in the gutter and people are hurting so much ?? Makes no sense to me.

And all these entertainers - I am/was for Obama but am getting sick of the showmanship and cowtowing to Hollywood stars -- is that is what we want ? Wouldn't the Clintons be better ?!!

[Kevin]

McCain probably won't even make his own convention before being captured by some vietnamese while cheating on his wife. The old man is a moral coward and spineless like a beached jellyfish. He has accomplished nothing but becoming an inmate in South Vietnam and obviously had some cell mates push his brains in rectally. What a sad, angry old man. How pathetic that his supporters are the most uneducated and ignorant among us. Just another reason to keep abortion legal!

[Bob]

Mr. Obama is the only candidate with anything to offer. We don't need the same old Republican rhetoric/fear and smear.... we need a strong leader with a new vision for America. The old Republican vision has been tarnished because it clearly didn't work.
This old man they have given us simply insults our intelligence as Americans. The only ones who will vote for McSame are the ones who simply can't see past party lines and the ones with an IQ equivalent to their shoe size.

[Imaginary Obama]

John Peabody wrote: "He spent too many years living in Muslim countries."

Really? That's the best you can do? You're a full grown man and you fall for that? That makes me feel really sorry for you, friend. You should get out more.