[Kiran Chetry, Cnn Anchor:] History...
[Sen. Barack Obama,  Presidential Candidate:] I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States.
[Chetry:] Barack Obama tells 85,000 people he's ready to beat John McCain.
[Obama:] On November 4th, we must stand up and say, "Eight is enough."
[Chetry:] And breaking news: John McCain's V.P. pick could come out any minute, who won't be at the rally today. Live from Mile High, is "The Most Politics in the Morning."
[John Roberts, Cnn Anchor:] And good morning to you. It is Friday. It's the 29 of August. It's John Roberts. We are out in the parking lot of INVESCO Field at Mile High. The scene morning is quite a bit different than it was just a few hours ago. They're tearing down the stage inside, folding up all of those chairs. Senator Obama will be leaving Denver about 9:00 o'clock this morning. His first event will be in Pennsylvania Beaver, Pennsylvania at 7:30 this evening. And, of course, between now and then, we're expecting that all- important announcement from Senator John McCain as to his running mate is going to be. Ahead this hour, we have a ticket. Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination and could become the first African-American president of the United States. We're going to get context and perspective on his speech. Also ahead, the V.P. buzz surrounding John McCain. We're going to know in just a few short hours who that person will be. Those stories and more straight ahead. But first, let's take a look at what happened last evening. Eight-four thousand people witnessed the defining moment in country's history last night. But Barack Obama did not take much time to soak it all in. He challenged Senator John McCain and laid out the issues that will decide this election two months from now.
[Obama:] I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans, I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under $5 millions a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies but not one penny of tax relief to more than 100 million of Americans? How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plans that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement? It's not because John McCain doesn't care, it's because John McCain doesn't get. For over two decades for over two decades he subscribed to that old discredited Republican philosophy give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. In Washington, they call this the "ownership society." But what it really means is that you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck. You're on your own. No health care? The market will fix it. You're on your own. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps even if you don't have boots. You're on your own. We'll it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America and that's why I'm running for president of the United States.
[Roberts:] Barack Obama now is the official nominee of the Democratic Party. And, Kiran, regardless of your political stripes, you have to admit that that was a pretty amazing political event here at INVESCO Field last evening.
[Chetry:] It certainly was. In fact, even his biggest contender, John McCain took the time last night to say to him, "Job well done. We'll be fighting. We'll be back at it tomorrow, but tonight, good job, Senator." So, yes, it sure was on bipartisan lines, really, an amazing thing to behold. You know, we're also tracking tropical storm Gustav that could prove to be very troublesome for the gulf coast of this country. Here's a quick look right now at the satellite. This is still heating Jamaica, responsible for 60-plus deaths along the Caribbean. And now, it could strength and is looking to head into the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, possibly making landfall along the Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama coast early Tuesday. Of course, we are tracking this from the CNN weather center but in New Orleans they are taking it very seriously, three years to the week of hurricane Katrina caused so much devastation. We're going to look at how they're preparing along the gulf coast as well throughout the show John.
[Roberts:] All right. Kiran, thanks. So, did Obama deliver last night? Joining me now is John Avlon. He is an independent political analyst of not too "Independent Nation." Also with us this morning, Robert Zimmerman, Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor. First time you've been with us this morning. Robert, working on about 90 minute sleep. Welcome to our world.
[Robert Zimmerman, Cnn Political Contributor:] It's great to be with you. It's 3:00 a.m. Mountain Time. So, it's, you certainly woke me up this morning. That's for sure.
[Roberts:] So many analysts said that the challenge for Barack Obama going into his speech last night was to define what change is and put some meat on the bone. The rhetoric is one thing but there needed to be some substance in the speech. What would you say?
[Zimmerman:] Well, clearly, that was a very important issue. But also, it's important to remember, this was the moment where Barack Obama introduced himself to the American people. And what made this moment so historic was not just because he was the first African-American to be a nominee of a major political party, but also because of the crisis we're living in as Americans, when 85 percent of America says we're moving in the wrong direction, who feel that crisis at home and worry about our standing abroad. He had to be very specific and clear with his message. And not only was he clear with his message, but it produced a historic response.
[Roberts:] John, looking at it from an independent perspective, what did you take away from that and do you think that he'll be able to woe any of those undecided voters?
[John Avlon, Independent Analyst:] I do, absolutely. It was a powerful speech. Barack Obama mastered his momentum. He's showing himself to be a guy who sets the bar high and then clears it. And last night, he did a number of things to answer the criticisms that people have been throwing at him. He did have a lot of substance to that style. There were policies, policies, policies in the speech but he directly related to real people's lives which is what he needed to do. He reached out in the field not only to Democrats but to Republicans and independents over and over. And there was a lot of centrist substance that I think is going to move over a lot of those independents.
[Roberts:] But what about theatrics, the presentation of last night, Robert? Republicans were trying to downplay by saying this is only going to reinforce the notion that he is a celebrity. They have 80,000 people there and there is a chance that when they take the big shot at the stadium, he's going to look very small.
[Zimmerman:] That's the standard. That's the great Karl Rove's strategy that used great reproach around it. They attacked Al Gore's strength because he was intelligent, pull them
[Roberts:] We got lots to talk about this morning. We'll get you back, gentlemen. We'll see you again, soon. For now, let's take you back over to New York and here's Kiran.
[Chetry:] John, thanks. And in just a few hours, we will know Senator John McCain's choice for a running mate. The top contenders: Former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, as well as Minnesota governor, Tim Pawlenty, and independent senator, Joe Lieberman. Those were three of the big names out there that said to be on the short list. Also, a lot of buzz this morning around one of them, after he abruptly canceled his media appearances yesterday. CNN's Bash is watching the McCain campaign this morning and joins us live from Dayton, Ohio. We have them our show, but after that, the Minnesota governor left.
[Dana Bash, Cnn Correspondent:] And pretty much disappeared, that's right. And that is one of the reasons why speculation is swirling perhaps some more around Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota than others. But let me just tell you, Kiran, what we know right now. What we know is that John McCain has made a decision on who is running mate is. He is going to appear we understand with that person here in Dayton in just a few hours. But we do not know is, of course, who that person is. And also, we don't know whether or not Senator McCain has actually notified that person. It's very interesting, we originally has got that it was possibility, even a probability that the McCain campaign will let it be known who his running mate would be shortly after Barack Obama finished his speech last night. Well, I got a call from a senior McCain aide last night, a couple of hours earlier, saying, "You know what, we decided we are not going to do that, do it last night. We decided that it is because it was, quote, 'Barack Obama's night." But now, we are just pins and needles as you can imagine, working the phone. Even at this hour, it's pretty hard trying to figure out who it is but we are going to know in just a short while, Kiran.
[Chetry:] All right. Dana Bash, keep us posted. Thanks so much. Well, the Republican National Convention again begins Monday in Minneapolis St. Paul. The Xcel Energy Center will be the home base for the 20,000 delegates and 15,000 members of the media as John McCain accepts his party's nomination. And again, the big question surrounding him this morning: Who did he pick to take the stage with him? As Dana said, we'll find out in a couple of hours if not sooner. Stay with the most politics in the morning. On Monday, we kick things off with the best political team on TV. And a look now at our special guests, including first lady, Laura Bush; as well as independent Connecticut senator, Joe Lieberman; former candidate, Senator Fred Thompson; and, Hollywood conservative, Jon Voight. Also happening now, tropical storm Gustav lashing Jamaica after killing many people as it made its way across Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The gulf coast is getting a jump on this one, trying to avoid a repeat as we approach three years since hurricane Katrina. Is New Orleans ready the big question this morning. We're tracking the storm. You're watching "The Most News in the Morning."