At the end of the night, Obama appeared via satellite (as nominees have done in recent conventions) to welcome delegates to Denver and promised to see them Thursday night, when he gives a historic acceptance speech at INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium — the first black man nominated for president by a major political party.

Maya Soetoro-Ng, Obama's half-sister, told Democrats that she has watched in wonder as her older brother has grown and given hope to so many.

"Barack opened my mind and spirit, he took me to festivals, museums, street fairs, introducing me to people of many backgrounds and to stand up for what you believe in," she said. "And I can tell you that he'll be there for you, just as he has always been there for me."

Former President Jimmy Carter, in a video presentation, said that the Bush administration "ignored the plight" of the victims of Hurricane Katrina for three years, and some are still living like those he has seen in Third World countries.

Obama as president "will make sure this never happens again," said Carter.

There was also a special tribute to Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that was highlighted by an appearance and short speech by the ailing senator, who has brain cancer. Despite his illness, he promised he would be on the Senate floor in January, to work with the future President Obama to bring health care to all.

"There is a new wave of change all around us," Kennedy said to the enthralled crowd, who chanted "Teddy, Teddy, Teddy" a number of times. "With Barack Obama and for you and me, our country, will be committed to this cause, the work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on."

In introducing Sen. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, said: "I am here tonight to pay tribute to two men who have changed my life, and the life of this country — Barack Obama, and Edward M. Kennedy. Their stories are very different, but they share a commitment to the timeless American ideals of justice and fairness, service and sacrifice, faith and family. I have never had someone inspire me the way people tell me my father inspired them but I do now — Barack Obama."

Finally, while he did not address the convention (that will come later this week) Obama's pick for vice president, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., was in the hall bringing loud cheers each time convention cameras showed him on the big-screen TVs.

Democrats started running new TV ads this week, showing GOP presidential nominee John McCain agreeing with President Bush any number of times, including McCain himself talking about how often he voted in the Senate with Bush.

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