Now that Barack Obama has chosen Joseph Biden, the Senior Senator from Delaware and Chair of the Senator Foreign Relations Committee, as his running mate, all the pieces are in place for the Democratic coronation. Some call it and historic moment in time, some call it stifling of democracy, some are here to party. Like thousands of others, media, delegates, and protesters, descended upon Denver, Election Unspun is learning away around the city and we decided to take you along.

In the second half of today's show, we hear sounds and voices from anti-war protests that took place today in Denver. 

More than a years worth Democratic convention protest  preparation, which included lawsuits challenging limitations on free speech is about to come to an end.  Saturday the events officially begin as activist organizers will hold trainings and know your rights forums.  Larry Hales is an organizer for Recreate 68 and FIST previews the week ahead. Hales begins by discussion limitations the city placed on protestors.

PART 2

With less than two weeks until the Republican National Convention, activists are preparing their last minute mobilizations. Election Unspun Producer Karen Miller spoke with Meredith Abby from the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War. Abby says they are hoping for 50,000 protesters.

PART 2

Conventions usually bring big business to host city restaurants, bars, and shops.  But for many businesses in Minneapolis St. Paul, business has not met expectations.  Election Unspun producer spoke with Dan Jasper spokesperson for the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minneapolis. He says for his venue things have not worked out as planned.

Engaging Her

With much of the focus on conventions that begin next week, some are looking beyond.  Get out the vote efforts are underway, and voter turn out is a main strategy of Barack Obama's path to victory.  Unassociated with a candidate, groups are also working to increase voter involvement.  One campaign is called Get out HER vote.  Kathy Spillar, Executive Editor, Ms Magazine joins us to talk about it.

Women are voting at higher rates not only as older women but also among young women voters.

INTERVIEW 2

Family Members of POW's Oppose McCain

Republican  John McCain spoke to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Conference Monday.  As a war veteran, McCain uses his experience to enhance his foreign policy credentials while attempting to paint opponent Barack Obama as an inexperienced novice.  But not everyone is impressed with McCain's standing on veterans issues as Senator.  One of those is Carol Hrdlicka. Her husband was shot down in Vietnam May 18 1965. He was captured in Laos and has never been returned.  Hrdlicka has lobbied on behalf of veterans and prisoners of war since his disappearance.   

INTERVIEW 2

Each week, KPFK News Director Patrick Burke brings together an unusual panel of guests to talk about election issues. He invites a Republican and a Democratic strategist or official in studio with an organizer from outside the two mainstream parties. This week, Patrick spoke with Independent Vice Presidential Candidate Matt Gonzalez and Democratic strategist Bill Carrick by phone. Republican Jewish Coalition representative Larry Greenfield was in the studio. These three guests offered their divergent perspectives on the role of advertising and media hype in this year's election. The trio of guests go on to speak about the candidacy of
Ralph Nader this election year. 

Greens Sue to Change the Electoral College

Presidential candidates strategize their campaigning not to win a majority of votes, but to win a majority of electoral votes.  Each state allocates a certain number of electoral votes and the candidates try to find the best way to reach the magic number - 270.  The Green Party has filed a lawsuit challenging the winner take all system.  The suit says it discounts the vote of those who didn't vote in the majority.  We spoke with Asa Gordon, chair of the DC Statehood Green Party's Electoral College Task Force and Executive director of the Douglass Institute of Government

PART 2

Democrats Complete Platform with Changes to Iran Policy

The Democratic Party has finalized its platform.  They held 1600 town hall meetings around the country in an attempt to include the public in the process. Joining us talk about the platform is Michael Yaki is National Platform Director for the Obama Campaign and the Democratic National Committee. He talks about changes from the Democrats' platform 4 years ago.

PART 2

Progressive groups champion the inclusion of language in the Democratic platform that guarantees health care for all.  But Tim Carpenter, Executive Director of Progressive Democrats of America, told Pacifica's Nathan Moore that being heard wasn't easy. 

Cindy Sheehan to Run Against Speaker Pelosi

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan is now officially on the November ballot.  The mother of an Iraq war veteran killed in 2005 gathered enough signatures to run as an independent for Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat.  But the grassroots campaign is struggling for the support of many of Sheehans own fans, who think she's veered too far off her anti-war focus, and that there are far worse members of congress that need to be removed from office than Speaker of the house Pelosi.  From San Francisco, Andrew Stelzer reports..

STREET AMBI

Oil Companies Drilling for Election-Year Support

If supporters of increased offshore oil drilling seem to be everywhere these days, it's no accident.  Industry-funded pro-drilling groups are holding rallies.  Oil and gas companies have stepped up donations to Republican John McCain's Presidential campaign and public polls on offshore drilling are often misinterpreted.  Judith Siers-Poisson and Diane Farsetta of PR Watch.org report.