Democratic National Convention In Full Swing By Jessica Kaiser jkaiser@suntelegraph.com SIDNEY - The 2008 Democratic National Convention (DNC) is taking place in Denver, Colo. from Aug. 25 through the 28. With 17,000 hotel rooms booked and 21,000 volunteers on board, this year’s convention is anticipated to be a great one. Of course it would not be a convention without the democratic presidential nominee present to address the crowd. Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to accept the democratic nomination on Thursday night as the convention moves to INVESCO Field at Mile High, so that more Americans can be a part of the fourth - and final night - of the Convention. While the convention will be filled with high-powered political figures, a former Sidney woman will be attending the convention to represent her district. Former 1984 Sidney graduate Audra (Massey) Austergard will be attending the convention as a super delegate for Lincoln. Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to speak, as well as his newly appointed running mate Sen. Joe Biden touching on subjects such as foreign policy and education. Cheyenne County Chairman for the Democratic Party, Darwin Fornander said that he has always been a supporter of Obama. “I think his choice for vice president was a good one,” he said. “I think his expertise in foreign relations will be an asset to Obama.” He said he believed that those who supported Sen. Hillary Clinton early on would not let that effect their decision to support Obama. “I think that people won’t vote against their part just because they are mad (Obama was chosen as the Democrat candidate),” Fornander said. “I think that he is a good leader.” Sidney resident and Democratic Party activist Clara Benisek said the caucus that was held in Cheyenne County in past months was a close race even though Sen. Clinton carried the county. “I am happy with the choice Obama has mad for vice president,” Benisek said. “It’s as good a choice as any for vice president.” Benisek did not think that the convention in Denver would have any baring on how voters in Cheyenne County will cast their ballots. “I think voters have already made up their minds,” she said. Benisek said she attended the Democratic Party’s State Convention in July and was pleased with its turn out. Monday’s headline prime-time speaker will be Michelle Obama - wife of the democratic candidate. Senator Hillary Clinton will be the headline prime-time speaker, and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday night. Benisek said she believed that Clinton’s career is only beginning. “I think Hillary will end up in a cabinet post,” she said. Pay Equity pioneer Lilly Ledbetter will also address the Convention on Tuesday. The headline prime-time speaker on Wednesday will be Vice Presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden. After receiving the official nomination on Thursday, Obama will communicate the urgency of the moment, highlight the struggles Americans are facing and call on Americans to come together to change the course of our nation. According to the DNC when the 45th Democratic National Convention is called to order on Monday, in Denver, Colo., it will be the culmination of more than 24 months of formal planning by the Democratic Party to structure a nominating cycle and nominating convention that represents the party’s principles of openness, fairness and diversity.