President Obama and former President Bill Clinton will appear on stage together after Clinton's speech tonight, three Obama campaign sources tell NBC News.

Officials had put out word that the Time Warner Arena was "at capacity." But NBC reported that the president would be making an appearance in the arena.

Portions of the hall were shut off, and NBC reporters spotted a motorcade heading to the arena, which was likely for former President Clinton.

Former President Bill Clinton is set to eviscerate Republicans for being responsible for policies that led to the 2008 economic meltdown - and yet wanting voters to put them back in power.

“In Tampa the Republican argument against the president's re-election was pretty simple: We left him a total mess, he hasn't finished cleaning it up yet, so fire him and put us back in," Clinton will say. “I like the argument for President Obama's re-election a lot better. He inherited a deeply damaged economy, put a floor under the crash, began the long hard road to recovery, and laid the foundation for a more modern, more well-balanced economy that will produce millions of good new jobs, vibrant new businesses, and lots of new wealth for the innovators."

Recommended: Clinton: No one could have restored economy to full health in 4 years

He will also tout the president's vision for the country.

“The most important question is," Clinton will say, "what kind of country do you want to live in? If you want a you're-on-your-own, winner-take-all society, you should support the Republican ticket. If you want a country of shared prosperity and shared responsibility -- a we're-all-in-this-together society -- you should vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.”

Previewing his primetime speech tonight at the Democratic convention, former President Bill Clinton tells NBC's Brian Williams that he will explain why President Obama's economic approach "is right" and will "pay off" if he's re-elected. 

Clinton also says in the interview that no president, in four years, could have restored the current economy "to full health" after the financial collapse of 2008.

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Cover of Newsweek, "Why Barack needs Bill." Why do you think Barack needs Bill? What do you have to offer?

BILL CLINTON: I really don't know. I've always been mystified by that. I was honored when he asked me to nominate him. I hope what I can do, because we did have a good economy, because we did have the longest expansion in history, is explain why I think his approach is right and it'll pay off if we renew his contract. Explain why the economy he faced was much weaker and different than the one I faced, so that there's no way any president, no president could have restored it to full health in just four years.

The rest of Brian Williams' interview with Clinton will appear on NBC "Nightly News" beginning at 6:30 pm ET.

WEST LEBANON, NH -- Mitt Romney emerged from debate rehearsals in Vermont today to pick up some pizzas, and to deliver his own analysis of the first night of the Democratic National Convention, which he said could not make the claim Americans were better off after President Obama's first term.

"You've heard no one stand up and say that people are better off than they were four years ago," Romney told reporters traveling with him as he picked up several extra large pies at a pizza joint here. "They really can't say that. They can't say it in all honesty. Particularly with the news that has come out this week."

"That news: The national debt tripping $16 trillion dollars for the first time, and the number of Americans receiving food stamps topping 47 million, up 15 million from when President Obama took office," Romney said.

Recommended: Ryan tries to draw wedge between Clinton, Obama

"The American people are not doing better and this president understands that and I think that's why people are reluctant to even talk about it because they know the American people know better," Romney said, echoing his campaign's latest line of attack against the Obama administration, after several top Obama advisers fumbled the "are we better off" question on last Sunday's talk-show circuit.

The comments to reporters marked Romney's emergence from a day of strenuous debate preparation at the secluded Vermont estate of his former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey. Romney and a small coterie of aides gathered at the house yesterday morning for a series of mock debates with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who is playing the role of President Obama for Romney.

"I'm just glad I won't be debating ... Rob Portman in the final debates," Romney said. "He's good."

Slideshow: Democratic National Convention

Here in the mountains, with limited cell phone and Internet service, Romney said he did not watch Michelle Obama's address to the Democratic convention in Charlotte last night, and that regardless he only had praise for the first lady.

"I didn't see her speech, but I certainly respect the first lady and think she's, she's done a fine job as our first lady," Romney said. "Lovely person and I respect her."

NBC News has learned that the Democratic Party will reinstate the language recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

Republicans -- including the Romney campaign -- criticized President Obama and the Democrats after it was discovered this language had been omitted in the Democratic Party's platform

This will all be changed on the floor today, NBC has learned, and it will probably mean just simply reinstating the 2008 language. 

The NBC Politics team is pleased to offer our app and mobile users a live stream of the 2012 Democratic National Convention for your convenience. Watch the latest convention speeches and events in real time, on the go, on your iPad or iPhone. Today's session will begin at 4:50 p.m. with remarks from Ill. Rep. Luis Gutierrez.

Click here to watch the live stream on your iPad or desktop computer.

Click here to watch the live stream on your iPhone.

ADEL, Iowa, and CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Paul Ryan today tried to separate President Obama and former President Bill Clinton, who will deliver a prime-time address at the Democratic National Convention tonight.

"My guess is we will get a great rendition of how good things were in the 1990s, but we’re not going to hear much about how things have been the last four years,” Ryan told the crowd outside the Dallas County Courthouse. “And, by the way, under President Clinton, we got welfare reform. Chuck Grassley, everybody else in Congress -- we got welfare reform, which moved people from welfare to work to get people out of poverty. President Obama is rolling back welfare reform.” 

Related: 2016 hopefuls find footing, test waters in Charlotte

Ryan added: “President Clinton worked with Republicans in Congress to have a budget agreement, to cut spending. President Obama? A gusher of new spending and only demagoguery from those of us who have offered solutions.” 

But the Obama campaign tells NBC News that Clinton's speech will actually draw "parallels" between Clinton's approach on the economy and President Obama's.

Clinton pursued "exactly the approach President Obama is taking today," a top campaign official said, adding that Clinton and Obama will "echo each other over the next few days."

Slideshow: Democratic National Convention

This is not the first time the Wisconsin congressman has mentioned the 42nd president -- who has become a top surrogate for Obama -- on the campaign trail.

In Bloomfield Hills, Mich., last month, Ryan explained again to attendees at a high-dollar fundraiser that while Obama and Clinton were both democratic presidents, they have very different approaches.

Obama “can’t run on his record, he didn’t moderate his positions like Bill Clinton did, he went hard to the left,” the Republican VP nominee said. 

Former President Clinton delivers the nominating speech at the convention this evening in Charlotte, N.C., the night before President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden formally accept their party’s nominations for the November election. 

“We are going to hear a lot of things in Charlotte," Ryan said Wednesday, "but we are not going to hear a convincing argument that we are better off than we were four years ago."

Speaking in the Hawkeye State for the second day in a row, Ryan appeared in a small town outside Des Moines and pleaded with the roughly 650 people in the attendance to help change the country.

“We need your help," he said. "Iowa is so crucial. Iowans you know this; you are used to this; we need you. You've had everybody running for president in each of your kitchens. We need your help; your country is watching. You have a unique responsibility and a special opportunity to get this country back on the right track and the good news is it's not too late to do that.”

President Obama won the Iowa Democratic caucuses in 2008, essentially launching him as a top-tier candidate. Obama beat Republican challenger John McCain in the general election, 54% to 45%. The most recent polls show Iowa as a dead heat heading into the final two months of the campaign.

While Iowa only yields six electoral votes, both Romney and Obama are spending a great deal of time and resources in the state.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The political world is firmly focused on this year’s elections, but several of President Barack Obama's would-be successors may well find their launching pad here at the Democratic National Convention, using high-profile speaking slots and delegate buzz to boost their fortunes for the 2016 campaign.

Win or lose in November, the president has long said that 2012 will be his last run for elective office, meaning that Democrats likely will have a wide-open playing field to battle for the nomination in four years – depending on the intentions of two party heavyweights, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Related -- First Thoughts: Checking all the boxes

For now, some dark-horse candidates are looking to use their convention appearances as a platform to raise their profile for consideration four years from now. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley had a speech in prime time on Tuesday evening, and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, whom Democrats also suggest has potential interest in a 2016 bid, speaks Thursday evening (though before broadcast networks break into their coverage).

Those two would-be candidates, among others, have also laid the groundwork for a future run with their work this week away from the cameras.

“I think the trick is to not come off as too unseemly. A potential candidate wants to network as much as possible, but they don't want to step into the current candidate's spotlight, either,” said Phil Singer, the deputy communications director on Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign.

Mario Anzuoni / REUTERS

In this file photo, Brian Schweitzer, Governor of the State of Montana, takes part in a panel titled

For lesser-known candidates like O’Malley and Schweitzer, the convention is an opportunity to build relationships with key state activists and potential donors who might assist their fledgling candidacies in a few years.

Both O'Malley, who is more widely perceived to have further national ambition, and Schweitzer, are doing little to tamp down that speculation with their schedules this week. Speaking engagements with Iowa delegates (their state holds the first nominating contest each cycle) are on both agendas, and Schweitzer is also meeting with delegates from New Hampshire, the site of the nation’s first 2016 primary and the second overall nominating contest.

“I'm really not thinking about anything but helping the president get re-elected. And that's what I'm focused on entirely,” O’Malley said at the Iowa breakfast this morning in reference to his recently-formed PAC, a step usually seen as a precursor to running for president.

But O'Malley and Schweitzer are mostly the exception this year than the rule. Many of the potential 2016 candidates are keeping a low profile, gladly taking a back seat to the fanfare on Obama's behalf this week, although Newark Mayor Cory Booker has also been busy making the rounds, whether aspiring for a state-wide race in New Jersey or perhaps something bigger.

Arguably the most formidable potential candidate in 2016, whose foray into the race would threaten to overshadow any other Democrat, is nowhere to be found this week in Charlotte. Instead, that potential candidate – Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – is literally halfway around the world on official business in Southeast Asia.

“If she wanted to do it, I think she'd have a very strong argument to make for why she should be the nominee and go onto the White House,” said Singer. “She's been pretty unequivocal in saying she doesn't want to run, so you have to take her at her word at this point.”

Delegates from Florida, a state in which Clinton beat Obama during the 2008 Democratic primary, gushed over the prospect of a second bid by the former first lady in 2016.

Recommended: Obama acceptance speech moved indoors

“Who would I want to run in 2016? Hillary Clinton. That’s who I think would be great, if she wants to. I think she loves our country so much and she has so much experience and she would be a great president," said Elena McCullough, retired 24-year veteran of the Coast Guard from Wesley Chapel, Fla.

"Hillary has done such a fabulous job (as secretary of state); she is the best ever," added Beryle Buchman, a retired middle school public school English teacher from Plant City, Fla. "I think the fact that Obama appointed her shows that the party not only healed, but it’s stronger."

Pool / REUTERS

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shake hands at the Ziguangge Pavilion in the Zhongnanhai leaders' compound in Beijing September 5, 2012.

Of course, Mrs. Clinton's most prominent advocate – her husband, former President Bill Clinton – will speak during Wednesday evening's prime-time session. But that speech is extremely unlikely to be used as a platform to pump up Hillary Clinton's 2016 credentials, especially since that speech will be the one to formally nominate the president for re-election.

Likewise, another high-profile potential candidate – Vice President Joe Biden – will largely use his high-profile speaking slot on Thursday night to serve as a “character witness” for Obama, according to senior campaign officials. But Biden will nonetheless enjoy a large spotlight that evening, broadcasting his brand of folksiness before a national audience of potential voters.

The vice president has strikingly refused to rule out his own run for president in 2016, though he told New York Magazine in a profile piece published this week that he doesn't know if he'll run in 2016, even if he could guarantee he'd be elected.

"I don’t know what the hell four years from now, three years from now, is gonna be like," said Biden, who would be 73-years-old by the time of the 2016 election. But he noted in the same interview that he has "no intention" of drifting easily into retirement if he feels as good as he does now.

Both Clinton (2008) and Biden (1988 and 2008) have previously sought the presidency, Biden with more mixed results than Clinton.

But there are other candidates with scant national experience whose names are lumped in with the crowd of potential 2016 candidates who are doing very little to further their prospects in Charlotte.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, for instance, will not deliver a speech at the convention, and is only set to make a brief daytrip to Charlotte. Other up-and-coming stars, like Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who delivered an impassioned speech on Tuesday, and Bay State Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren could also harbor higher aspirations.

NBC's Tom Curry and Andrew Rafferty contributed to this report.

Slideshow: Democratic National Convention

David Goldman / AP

Democrats gather in Charlotte, N.C., to officially nominate President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as the party's candidates for the 2012 presidential election.

Launch slideshow

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Democrats' decision to relocate their final convention night's festivities indoors due to weather worries, prompted a new storm of logistical questions, political concerns and disappointment from some of their most loyal supporters.

And Republicans giddily pounced, suggesting that the weather-related explanation was just a mere cover for a decision motivated by low enthusiasm among voters in this key swing state.

Officials said the decision to relocate tomorrow's events -- set outdoors at Bank of America stadium -- was made this morning, based on weather reports that show a high likelihood of severe conditions particularly during prime-time hours.

The move means that 65,000 holders of "community credentials" should not expect to attend tomorrow night's events, according to senior Democratic officials. Existing credentials will be honored for the 21,000 attendees who hold them for Tuesday-Wednesday events in Time Warner Cable Arena.

Recommended: 2016 hopefuls find footing, test waters in Charlotte

Those "community" ticketholders, many of whom volunteered for the campaign for the chance to see Obama's speech in person, will instead be invited to a conference call tomorrow afternoon with the president.

Convention organizers called the move "a public safety decision" designed to avoid a scenario in which thousands of attendees -- as well as law enforcement officials, convention volunteers, and scores of reporters -- were endangered by dangerous high winds or lightning.

But Republicans immediately seized on the relocation, with the RNC labeling the move as "a downgrade" due to "lack of enthusiasm" within minutes of the press release formalizing the venue change.

"Is the reason really weather, or is it because they were concerned about packing the place out?  And I think the latter is probably the reason," said Wayne King, the vice chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party, told NBC News after the decision was made.

Republicans have delighted in any sign that enthusiasm for President Barack Obama has waned here, starting with Democrats' earlier cancelation of a planned opening event for the convention on Monday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Recommended -- First Thoughts: Checking all the boxes

Democratic aides pushed back at those claims, insisting that Bank of America stadium would have been filled to capacity had the event gone forward as planned.

"We would have turned people away," said DNC communications director Brad Woodhouse, who added that organizers had a waiting list of 19,000 hopeful attendees in addition to the 65,000 who had "activated" their credential after applying for one through the campaign.

Slideshow: Democratic National Convention

David Goldman / AP

Democrats gather in Charlotte, N.C., to officially nominate President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as the party's candidates for the 2012 presidential election.

Launch slideshow

Pointing out that DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz praised Republicans for amending their own convention schedule due to weather and safety issues, Woodhouse slammed Republicans' failure to do the same when the tables were turned.

"It's really unseemly," he said.

While no major changes to the program itself are expected at this time, one other question remains unanswered for enthusiasts of a political convention's most colorful visual display.

Asked if the new venue will accommodate a balloon drop, one aide said only "I guess that will just have to be a surprise."

NBC's Jamie Novogrod contributed reporting.

First Read has confirmed that Democrats are moving their convention -- including President Obama's acceptance speech -- indoors for Thursday night at the Time Warner Cable Arena.

Related: 2016 hopefuls find footing, test waters in Charlotte

Thursday's events had originally been scheduled to take place at Bank of America Stadium, where the Carolina Panthers play football.

"Due to weather," an Obama campaign official says of the venue change.

And according to a press release, convention planners are specifically citing thunderstorms. 

“We have been monitoring weather forecasts closely and several reports predict thunderstorms in the area, therefore we have decided to move Thursday’s proceedings to Time Warner Cable Arena to ensure the safety and security of our delegates and convention guests,” said DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan in a release.

"The energy and enthusiasm for our convention in Charlotte has been overwhelming and we share the disappointment of over 65,000 people who signed up for community credentials to be there with the president in person. We encourage our community credential holders and Americans across the country to continue to come together with their friends and neighbors to watch and participate in history. The president will speak to these credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon, and we will work with the campaign to ensure that those unable to attend tomorrow’s event will be invited to see the president between now and Election Day.”

Slideshow: Democratic National Convention

David Goldman / AP

Democrats gather in Charlotte, N.C., to officially nominate President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as the party's candidates for the 2012 presidential election.

Launch slideshow

The Democrats’ first night checked all the boxes… It also replayed the greatest hits on Romney… And it told the Dems’ narrative on the American Dream… Breaking down Michelle Obama’s and Julian Castro’s speeches… Previewing tonight’s Bill Clinton speech… Republicans counter the Clinton speech… And Paul Ryan (in Iowa) and Ann Romney (in Ohio) hit the campaign trail.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- If you’re a Democrat believing the recipe for the president’s re-election is coalition politics, you couldn’t have scripted the opening night of the Democratic convention here any better. You had your nods to Latinos, young voters, and women -- precisely the groups the Obama campaign wants to turn out in November. There was the message (epitomized by Julian Castro’s keynote) that the election is a choice between two very economic visions. There also was the message (relayed by Martin O’Malley) that the choice is “forward” vs. “backward.” You had plenty of red meat and tough critiques of Mitt Romney (see Ted Strickland). But the evening also was capped off by a personal speech by First Lady Michelle Obama, designed to re-inspire the disillusioned faithful and defend her husband’s record and character. Yet perhaps more than anything else, last night conveyed real passion that we mostly didn’t see in Tampa. Don’t get us wrong, Republicans were fired up last week. But their passion was directed more at the president than Mitt Romney. Last night, however, the Democrats’ passion was focused squarely on their candidate. Elections aren’t decided by conventions, but the Democrats know how to produce a compelling -- and on-message -- night of TV. In short, on Day 1, Democrats proved they are better at producing a convention.

*** Replaying the greatest hits on Romney: Here’s another broad observation about last night: Every speech -- with the exception of Michelle Obama’s -- was equal part an affirmation of Obama and a takedown of Romney. And sometimes, those takedowns were raw and tough. An example was Tammy Duckworth, who touted the president’s national security record but who also pointed out that Romney never mentioned the word “Afghanistan” once in his acceptance speech last week. While the 10:00 pm ET hour in primetime was soft (with the Michelle Obama and Julian Castro speeches), the rest of the evening -- taken as a whole -- was a pounding of Romney. And it was the greatest hits, some of which Republicans will claim were below the belt:  Swiss bank account, tax returns, pioneers in outsourcing, references to Bain layoffs. Even the video tribute to Ted Kennedy was an uppercut to Romney, which led to RNC Chair Reince Priebus to express his disgust for using Kennedy from the grave in an attack. 

*** Two different versions of the American Dream: Also last night, almost every speech tried to capture the American Dream. The same was true in Tampa, but the message there was focused on an American Dream to become an entrepreneur or businessman. Here was Romney’s acceptance speech: “Business and growing jobs is about taking risk, sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding, but always striving. It is about dreams. Usually, it doesn't work out exactly as you might have imagined. Steve Jobs was fired at Apple. He came back and changed the world.” But compare that with the version of the American Dream we heard last night, which was focused more on giving the next generation a better chance. “Barack and I were both raised by families who didn’t have much in the way of money or material possessions but who had given us something far more valuable -- their unconditional love, their unflinching sacrifice, and the chance to go places they had never imagined for themselves.” This was a pure “values” play.

*** Breaking down Michelle Obama’s speech: As for the first lady’s speech, she tried to accomplish three things. First, she implicitly contrasted the Obamas’ beginnings with the Romneys’. “Even though back then Barack was a senator and a presidential candidate, to me he was still the guy who’d picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger side door.” Second, she made a direct appeal to women. “[President Obama] believes that women are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies and our health care. That’s what my husband stands for.”  And third, she vouched for her husband’s character. “So when people ask me whether being in the White House has changed my husband, I can honestly say that when it comes to his character, and his convictions, and his heart, Barack Obama is still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago.” As NBC’s Carrie Dann points out, the first’s lady task last night was to have the American public fall back in love with him, too. What the Obama campaign did last night was what the Romney camp probably wishes it did its first night: put your show-stopper last in the primetime.

*** A tale of two keynote addresses: Meanwhile, Julian Castro’s keynote was quite the national debut for the San Antonio mayor. His speech was an appeal to Latinos and younger voters, and he had a great story to tell. But the most striking thing about Castro’s keynote address was that he was essentially telling Obama’s message -- about the American Dream and the vision for the economy. Contrast that with last week’s GOP keynote speech by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was delivering the Christie message, not necessarily the Romney message. It seems pretty clear to us the Obama campaign had a heavy hand in Castro’s remarks. Who thinks the Romney folks had much of an impact on Christie’s?

*** Talking about abortion rights: In retrospect, perhaps the most surprising part of last night was that it had more talk about abortion rights than in any Democratic convention since 1992, the first of many self-described “Year of the Woman” campaign years. Not only did the first lady talk about the importance of women “making our own choices about our bodies and our health care,” NARAL President Nancy Keenan gave a fiery speech about abortion rights. Four years ago, it seemed the Democratic Party was going out of its way to feature pro-life officeholders, like Tim Kaine or Bob Casey Jr., as a way to set a different tone on culture. Fast forward four years later and it’s clear Democrats and the Obama campaign were sending the not-so-subtle message that they believe the secret formula to capitalizing on the gender gap: talk about women’s rights and women’s choices. But that strategy also carries the potential risk of alienating Democratic voters who might oppose abortion rights. This strategy may work in the Nevadas, Colorados and Virginias but in the heavier Catholic states, like Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio?

*** Bob Casey’s response: Speaking of, one of us interviewed Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Jr. last night and asked him if he was comfortable with what he was hearing on the abortion issue. Casey: “Well, we have differences of opinion on that but I think what most people are focused on, not just tonight, but throughout the campaign, is the basic fundamental difference about the future of the country.” Translation: Casey didn’t want to get into a debate on abortion -- that much was clear. More Casey on “The Daily Rundown.”

*** Dem platform gets criticized: If the production and scripting of last night’s Democratic convention went without a hitch, the same wasn’t true of the Democratic platform. Republicans and the Romney campaign, the Los Angeles Times reports, seized on the fact that Democrats dropped the language from 2008 recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.  In addition, CBN’s David Brody pointed out that Democrats dropped the words “God-given” from the platform. If there was another criticism of yesterday, it’s that the evening’s tone – outside the 10:00 pm hour – was pretty liberal leaning.

*** Tonight’s headliners -- Clinton and Warren: The marquee speakers for the second night of the Democratic convention are Massachusetts Senate nominee Elizabeth Warren and former President Bill Clinton. A top Obama campaign official tells First Read about Clinton’s speech tonight, “You’ve seen his speech; it’s the TV ad” the campaign has been airing over the past couple of weeks.  If there’s a worry for the Democrats tonight, it’s that more folks -- precisely the ones the Obama camp wants Bill Clinton to speak to -- are watching tonight’s NFL football game. By the way, NBC’s Brian Williams will be interviewing Clinton for NBC’s “Nightly News” tonight.

*** Countering Clinton: Meanwhile, the Romney campaign and its surrogates are trying to make the case that Barack Obama is no Bill Clinton. John Sununu writes in New Hampshire Union Leader, “[W]hile President Obama and his allies would love to be able to borrow credibility from the nation’s 42nd President, the contrast between Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — particularly when it comes to economic and fiscal issues — couldn’t be greater.” The Wall Street Journal adds, “Arguably the most memorable phrase (not related to a scandal) that Bill Clinton uttered during his Presidency came in his 1996 State of the Union address: "The era of big government is over." And for a few years, it was over. By contrast, Mr. Obama's four years have been spent expanding the government willy-nilly.” By the way, it’s pretty striking to see Republicans praising a man who raised taxes (without any GOP votes) and whom they impeached.

Slideshow: Democratic National Convention

David Goldman / AP

Democrats gather in Charlotte, N.C., to officially nominate President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden as the party's candidates for the 2012 presidential election.

Launch slideshow

*** Wednesday’s convention schedule: Here are some of tonight’s major speakers:  

7:00 pm hour: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan
8:00 pm hour: Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Reps. Steny Hoyer and Barney Frank, and Govs. John Hickenlooper and Jack Markell.
9:00 pm: California AG Kamala Harris, Sandra Fluke, former employees of Bain Capital enterprises, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen.
10:00 pm: Elizabeth Warren, Antonio Villaraigosa, and Bill Clinton
After Clinton’s speech, Democrats will begin their roll-call votes to nominate Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

*** On the trail today: Paul Ryan holds a rally in Adel, IA at 10:20 am ET… And Ann Romney campaigns in Findlay, OH.

*** Romney’s debate prep: Meanwhile, Mitt Romney is down doing debate prep. Some nuggets from NBC’s Garrett Haake: Romney and Rob Portman (playing the part of Obama) had an hour-long mock debate yesterday, with Romney adviser Peter Flaherty playing the part of moderator Jim Lehrer. And the Romney campaign has given their candidate so many briefing books, they’re enough to fill a suitcase.

Countdown to 1^st presidential debate: 28 days
Countdown to VP debate: 36 days
Countdown to 2^nd presidential debate: 41 days
Countdown to 3^rd presidential debate: 47 days
Countdown to Election Day: 62 days

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The New York Times’ Rutenberg: “Democrats opened their convention here on Tuesday night with a parade of officials telling voters that Mitt Romney does not get it and with a rousing speech from Michelle Obama making the case that President Obama does. Mr. Obama’s roster of Democratic promoters spent the first hours detailing a political indictment of Mr. Romney, blistering him as being out of touch with the middle class and intent on taking the country back to the policies that caused the economy’s problems. But the main attraction of the evening was the appearance of Mr. Obama’s lead character witness: the first lady, who, wearing a pink-and-gold-speckled sleeveless dress, was greeted with chants of ‘Four more years!’ from the excited arena, to which she responded: ‘With your help.’”

The Washington Post’s Tumulty: “First lady Michelle Obama declared Tuesday that her husband’s record in office has proved his values, his vision and his courage, as the Democrats opened their convention here with a wide-ranging appeal to the diverse constituencies and interests they must bring out in force to reelect the president. The first night of the convention featured the strong presence of -- and a heavy appeal to -- women, Latinos and young people. Speakers evoked their shared values and issued a warning that Republican nominee Mitt Romney would take the country backward.”

AP: “First lady Michelle Obama lovingly praised her husband Tuesday night in a prime-time Democratic Convention speech as a devoted husband and caring father at home and a ‘man we can trust’ to revive the nation’s weak economy as president, beckoning the country to return him to the White House despite agonizingly slow recovery from recession.”

More: “Mrs. Obama, given a huge ovation and describing herself as the ‘mom in chief,’ made no mention of Republican challenger Mitt Romney. But those who preceded her to the podium on the first night of the president’s convention were scathing.”

And: “Castro, the first Hispanic chosen to deliver a keynote address, was unsparing in criticizing Romney, suggesting the former Massachusetts governor might not even be the driving force on the Republican ticket this fall. ‘First they called it ‘trickle down, the supply side,’ he said of the economic proposals backed by Republicans. ‘Now it’s Romney/Ryan. Or is it Ryan/Romney?’”

USA Today: “Julián Castro has arrived. The photogenic, 37-year-old mayor of San Antonio and one of the Democrats' rising stars made his national debut Tuesday, delivering the keynote address to the Democratic National Convention touting a government that invests in infrastructure and creates opportunity.”

The New York Times’ Zeleny: “Mayor Julián Castro of San Antonio made his national debut on Tuesday evening at the Democratic convention, presenting himself as a generational testament to American opportunity that would not have been possible without hard work and a helping hand.”

Politico: “Castro keynote: Romney from different world.” From the story: “San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro used his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention here Tuesday to deliver a sharp attack on Mitt Romney rooted in his own story as the grandson of a Mexican immigrant maid whose hard work paved the way for his path to the national spotlight here.”

Reuters: “Rising Democratic star says Americans need Obama's common touch.”

The top story in the San Antonio Express News: “San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro stepped into the national spotlight Tuesday with a soaring speech that evoked the struggles of his Mexican immigrant family and how that family paved the way for his success.”

The New York Daily News: “Michelle Obama delivered the speech of her life Tuesday, urging voters to see the President as not just the Commander-in-chief, but also as a caring husband and father who understands Americans’ plights and pains.”

The Boston Globe: “In an energized opening session that spoke to a broad array of party interests, Michelle Obama delivered a personal and emotional address to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, describing her family’s struggles and hopes. She described not only of trying to maintain a normal family life in the White House, but of President Obama’s commitment to his agenda, and about how he agonizes as he pores over letters from Americans in need. … Although she never mentioned Mitt Romney by name, a racially diverse parade of speakers took the Republican presidential nominee head-on — challenging him on taxes, health care, immigration, women’s rights, and abortion.”

AP’s Pace: “Michelle Obama’s message: President Barack Obama is just like you. … Mrs. Obama never mentioned the president’s Republican challenger, who grew up in a world of privilege and wealth. But the point was clear as she wove a tapestry of their early years together, when money was tight and times were tough, when they were ‘‘so in love, and so in debt.’’ She reminisced about the man who now occupies the Oval Office pulling his favorite coffee table out of the trash and wearing dress shoes that were half a size too small. And she told stories about a president who still takes time to eat dinner with his daughters nearly every night, answering their questions about the news and strategizing about middle-school friendships. With a mix of personal anecdotes and policy talk, Mrs. Obama’s speech was her most political yet.”

“Democrats turned to liberal icon Edward Kennedy, who has been dead for three years, to skewer Mitt Romney tonight,” USA Today writes. 

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus reacted this way on Twitter: “Classless Dems use tribute video of deceased Ted Kennedy to attack Mitt Romney.”

Here’s the video.