Delegates promote their causes in hats, buttons

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., waves before speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

DENVER—A diary from the convention floor:

4:41 p.m. Johnnie Potters, a Mississippi superdelegate, says she has a pinwheel on top of her elaborate hat, which also sports a stuffed donkey, to promote energy conservation.

4:50 p.m. Monica Stonier of Vancouver, Wash., takes a poke at the No Child Left Behind law with a tall black hat that reads, "Trust Teachers, Not Test Scores."

5 p.m. Florida delegate Mike Williams of Tallahassee says Monday's convention vote to restore the Florida and Michigan delegates' full voting rights was "a meaningless gesture."

5:05 p.m. Pennsylvania delegate Ruth Rudy says the white star painted with the word "Unity" on her sparkly red cowboy hat is to remind everyone to back presidential candidate Barack Obama -- even though she voted for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

5:20 p.m. Abby Dart of Harbor Springs, Mich., promotes her part of the state by adding a foot-wide, green-and-white Mackinac Bridge to her blue "Obama '08" hat.

6:34 p.m. Former President Jimmy Carter brings the room to its feet as he wraps up his time on the podium.

6:52 p.m. The convention floor erupts into cheers when vice presidential pick Joe Biden is shown on the monitor.

6:55 p.m. Delegate Nagaraja Rao of Richmond, Calif., waves a handmade pink-and-green Obama sign. The Indian immigrant says he became a Democratic supporter years ago after he discovered "there is no color" in the Republican Party.

6:59 p.m. People stop to take pictures and shake hands with former presidential candidate George McGovern as he makes his way to where the South Dakota delegates are sitting up near the podium.

7 p.m. In the Iowa delegation, Nancy Bobo of Des Moines bobs slightly to the music, her large hat resembling an ear of corn bobbing along with her.

7:06 p.m. Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy walks the few steps between the Vermont and Iowa delegations to greet Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and his wife.

7:09 p.m. A South Carolina delegate holds up a handmade sign that proclaims, "Obama-Biden: The dynamic duo."

7:13 p.m. A Minnesota delegate in a blue T-shirt claps in time to the music as the sound blares through the hall.

7:16 p.m. First-time delegate Mattie Copeland-Parker of Lagrange, Ky., wanders the aisles taking photos on her cell phone and sending them off to friends waiting to share her experiences.

7:20 p.m. Jeff Coryell, the official blogger for the Ohio delegation and a blogger for Ohio Daily Blog, types away on his Apple computer.

7:25 p.m. The crowd, which has grown unusually quiet during the tribute to ailing Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, breaks into applause when a photo of John, Robert and Edward Kennedy flashes on the screen.

7:30 p.m. Delegates frenetically wave Kennedy signs as he comes to the podium, and one woman climbs on a chair to hold her sign even higher. Chants of "Teddy, Teddy," break out as Kennedy, who is suffering from brain cancer, pledges to be on the Senate floor in January when Obama takes office.

7:47 p.m. The wave of people pulsing to and fro on the main walkway on the convention floor suddenly turns into gridlock, causing one man to yell, "Stop pushing!"

7:53 p.m. Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, standing with his delegation, reaches out to shake the hand of former Democratic National Committee Chairman Donald Fowler as he walks past. "He used to run this thing!" he enthusiastically tells a nearby delegate. "He's the godfather!"

7:56 p.m. The Guam delegation is handed "One Nation" signs but told to hold them down until former Iowa Rep. Jim Leach, a Republican, comes to the podium. Eight minutes later, the delegates are on their feet waving the signs.

8:05 p.m. Young Washington state delegates sit in their seats and take videos of each other.

8:16 p.m. The Missouri delegation cheers through almost the entire speech by Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill.

8:28 p.m. Former East Chicago Mayor Bob Pastrick, an Indiana delegate, signs the nominating petition for Joe Biden to become the party's vice presidential candidate.

8:34 p.m. The Oregon delegation responds as Michelle Obama's brother, Oregon State University basketball coach Craig Robinson, yells, "Go Beavers!" during his speech.

8:40 p.m. The Illinois delegation whoops and hollers when Michelle Obama mentions growing up on the south side of Chicago.

8:50 p.m. A young woman listening intently nods repeatedly as Michelle Obama lists what her husband would do in the White House.

9:01 p.m. Delegates pass a motion to stand in recess until Tuesday.

9:03 p.m. As the first evening of the convention ends, a Democrats Abroad delegate dances as he waits for the aisles to clear.