Democrats Unite In Hampton Roads

Democratic activists gathered in Hampton Friday night to kick off the party's state convention, which will take place this weekend at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. Sen. James Webb and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott were special guests at a pool party at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center while four prominent Democrats hosted a packed party at the Embassy Suites. "This is energizing the base,'' said C. Richard Cranwell, chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party. Cranwell said he had tried to persuade Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to speak at the convention but he was not sucessful since the Illinois senator was in Virginia just last week. The convention will pick up at 10 a.m. Saturday with speeches by Webb, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, former governor and U.S. Senate candidate Mark R. Warner, congressional... [read full story]