Politics / Democratic National Convention Dems, Still Bruised, Open Convention Hillary slams Mac attack ad, will call for Obama support on floor By Newser Editors and Wire Services Posted Aug 25, 2008 4:57 PM CDT Copied Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, uses the gavel to call to order the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo) The Democrats opened their 2008 presidential nominating convention today in Denver, a four-day political festival to nominate Barack Obama for president and fellow Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, was in Denver for the opening and might speak tonight to fellow Democrats still trying to recover from a long and bruising primary battle between Obama and Hillary Clinton. While it was Obama's convention, Clinton drew heavy attention as she fought off Republican John McCain's assault on Democratic unity and urged die-hard supporters to get behind her former rival. Clinton and Obama worked out a deal to give her some votes in the nomination roll call, but quickly end the divided balloting in unanimous consent for Obama. (More Democratic National Convention stories.) Report an error