No Auburn-LSU or Auburn-Alabama game crowd and enthusiasm could top the 84,000 fans, concerts, speeches and fireworks of Thursday’s acceptance speech by Barack Obama. The final night ceremonies at Mile High Stadium and Invesco Field shattered all records for political conventions.

The crowd size and the viewers on TV broke all records. I have never seen the wave done better and with more passion than last night. More American people watched Obama’s speech on TV than watched the opening of the Olympics. The fanfare and fireworks at the end brought chills and tears to many eyes. I saw many civil rights leaders from Alabama weep openly and privately throughout the week as they pondered and reflected on how far they had come, especially on the 45th anniversary of the King speech. I personally felt history in the making as the cool Denver breeze blew in my face and as the crowd cheered our nominee as fireworks rang aloud with Barack Obama and Joe Biden and families waving and smiling to us.

The Thursday night event also showcased the many retired generals of the different services of our armed forces that now support Barack Obama and want a Commander in Chief who will rebuild America’s image around the world. Three of my favorite entertainers, Sheryl Crow, Michael McDonald (Doobie Bros) and Stevie Wonder performed. It was awesome. Sheryl Crow sang her hit A Change Will Do You Good. I showed my best dance moves off to our Alabama Delegation on that one. (After all, my daughter Abby and I won the Daddy-Daughter dance contest at the Auburn Rec Center several years ago.) The funniest event of the night was the reaction of the CBS News team to Stevie Wonder. Alabama’s Delegation was in the back of the field right under the ABC, FOX and CBS Broadcast booths.

Andrea Mitchell sat next to me for a while. Katie Couric, Bob Sheefer, Brit Hume and many more were just a few feet away. But when Stevie started singing Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours…the entire CBS team started getting down and danced the entire song…even the anchors. All the other networks were stoic and steel faced. So we all got down with Katie and crew. After the song was over I shouted, CBS is the coolest network. At that moment the Alabama, Louisiana and Maine Delegations began chanting C…B…S, C…B…S. It got louder and louder and the FOX and ABC folks didn’t know what to do. Finally we all had to go back to work. I am waiting on my promotional check from CBS. What fun!

The best line of the night came from a republican voter from Indiana named Barney Smith. Barney lost his job to bad Bush trade deals and has had to start his life over. His line for the convention was that…“it is time John McCain and the republicans started looking out for Barney Smith for a change instead of Smith Barney…the crowd roared and roared. Old Barney had stole the show in prime time.

The Obama video and life story helped me to know and understand Barack Obama in a deeper way. His grandfather, like my own dad served in George Patton’s 3rd Army in WWII. Barack’s life story is one of courage and love and an extended family of grandparents that helped raise him. His father’s absence in his own life made him commit to being a loving and devoted dad. His wife and two little girls look so loving and give you the assuranced that this Democratic Nominee has all the family values that we cherish. The Obama speech was powerful and lasted nearly 40 minutes. It touched on the differences with McCain and was bold and full of details. I hope to put a text of it on the Alabama Democratic Party website at http://www.aladems.org  I spoke to Obama’s pollster after the event and he told me that their is definitely a small, but real bump for Obama after the convention and that the race would still be close. Democrats must work hard and talk to their friends and neighbors!

It took two hours to get back to the hotel. I was tired and retired around 1 a.m. I was up early this morning to attend our meeting of the Democratic National Committee at 10 a.m. We gave tribute and passed a resolution in honor of my late colleague from Arkansas who was gunned down in his office several weeks ago. His death affected me deeply and makes me more aware of the dangers of serving in public life. I met his wife and widow at the convention. I took her hand and she held it closely for a minute as she teared up. She thanked us all for our love and prayers. She announced the Arkansas vote that night in a tribute to her late husband. It was my great honor this morning to get to close the DNC meeting with the benediction.

The scheduled clergyman did not arrive on time and I guess they knew a Baptist from Alabama would pray on the spot. In my prayer I asked the delegates to not only pray for Obama and Biden, but to pray for McCain and their families. I invoked the New Testament scripture for the weary and heavy laden who need rest. That is me and all delegates today. They got a chuckle from that. I also prayed for those facing Gustaf in the Gulf. Our nation and leaders need prayer now more than ever. I don’t think God weighs democratic or republican prayer with any greater value. He values all prayers.

I am cleaning up and getting ready to fly home on Saturday morning. I miss my wife Paula and my family and friends back home. It has been a stressful but historic week. In my heart, I think the Obama-Biden ticket can win. McCain’s choice of a running mate has surprised many here in Denver and effectively takes away their ability to criticize Barack Obama’s experience. At 72, John McCain will be the oldest nominee ever. The 43-year-old Governor of Alaska may not reassure folks concerned about experience and Commander in Chief question. Joe Biden, Obama’s running mate is respected worldwide. It will be a wild 60 days until the election in November.

I wish my counterpart, Chairman Mike Hubbard and the Alabama Republicans, safe travel and best wishes on their trip to St. Paul, Minnesota. I look forward to watching and reading about it. Thanks to the O-A News and to all you bloggers and newspaper readers for reading about the experiences of the Democratic National Convention through my lens this past week. See you back home. God Bless and War Eagle!

Joe