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The view from Tennessee

Chairman Howard Dean gaveled the convention into session just a little after three. There are lots of empty seats, but people are trickling in. There are a dozen or so delegates from Tennessee. Next door, Texas has a full house.

This part of the session is mostly introduction of convention officials and presentation of official reports. The main event starts a 7PM MT.

Was talking to a Clinton delegate who said she would cast her vote for Clinton on the first roll call because that’s who the people in her district voted for. She hopes other pledged Clinton delegates will do the same. She said there has been no pressure from the Obama campaign and the TNDP has not provided any guidance or instructions one way or another and delegates are free to vote for whoever they want.

In unrelated news, Rep. Lincoln Davis held a luncheon for delegates today. We are told that Davis will announce for Governor in January.

Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Gray Sasser said that he has spoken with every Tennessee delegate and they are all unified behind Sen. Obama, regardless of whether they vote for Clinton on a first ballot as a show of support. Delegates Tammy Bradford of Jackson and Anthony Lamb of Ripley noted that Clinton said today she will release her delegates, and if so they will vote for Obama as instructed because "she’s in charge."

Delegate Jack Cunningham of Milan is looking forward to hearing Obama talk about the economy and getting us out of the war. When asked how rural voters feel about Obama, Cunningham said "they don’t know him yet."

If their enthusiasm is any indication, we’re sure that after the convention the Tennessee delegates will be "fired up and ready to go" talk to voters in their communities, rural and otherwise, about Sen. Obama.

UPDATE: The tribute to Sen. Kennedy was moving and the reaction when he took the stage was overwhelming. Even more moving was his speech, in which he promised to be there in January when Obama is sworn in as president. It was the best moment of the night so far.

UPDATE: Michelle Obama hit it out of the park and the crowd went wild.