By Bruce Thompson, North Carolina delegate

Today started out with the first of our four North Carolina Delegation caucus meetings.  Lt. Governor Bill Halter of Arkansas was our keynote speaker.  Governor Halter focused on party unity and stressed that even though he was here as a Clinton delegate, he is going to work to elect Obama President.After catching up on some work still sitting on my desk back East, I made my way downtown to get ready for the first convention session.  Getting in the building was no easy task.  I could see the Pepsi Center but the more I walked the further away it seemed.  Fortunately, there were not as many protestors to dodge today.

I finally made it to the Pepsi Center.  Seeing the many members of Congress and other dignataries was almost overwhelming.  Many of them are larger than life figures but here in the Pepsi Center, I soon realized that they are just like the rest of the delegates.  In fact, as I type this entry, I am sitting beside my Congressman, Representative Brad Miller.

Illinois poltical figures such as Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulis and State Comptroller Dan Hynes are addressing us early this evening and re-introducing the delegates to Senator Obama.  And now, John Legend is entertaining the crowd with a choir backing him.

Most of the delegates are still milling around trying to locate their state’s seats.  However, the excitement is beginning to build in anticipation of the tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy and the prime time address by Michelle Obama.

On the way in, a reporter from Argentina asked me if I thought that Michelle Obama was “too strong of a woman.” My response was simple - there is no such thing as too strong of a woman!  With that, I am going to put the keyboard down and get ready to hear from Caroline Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama - some strong women!