CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The upcoming election is about the future of the country and what direction that will take, said a Wood County resident who is a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.
The convention got under way Tuesday with speakers and the roll call vote with each state committing its number of votes to making President Barack Obama the party's official candidate for the general election in November.
"It has been a busy day," said Paul Miller, a delegate in West Virginia's delegation to the convention from Wood County.
As people arrived in town Monday, proceedings took on a festive tone, but it was down to business Tuesday.
The day started with the West Virginia Caucus meeting where issues were discussed affecting West Virginia, including labor and the state of the middle class, Miller said.
Miller attended a Rural Caucus meeting where people discussed how the president has helped rural farmers and businesses with agriculture support programs.
Throughout the day Tuesday people were talking about issues such as immigration, health care and the economy, Miller said.
Miller said he was looking forward to the speakers throughout the convention, including first lady Michelle Obama, who spoke Tuesday night; former President Bill Clinton, who will speak tonight, and the president's acceptance speech Thursday night.
"I am really excited," Miller said.
Many people will be looking forward to Clinton's speech tonight, Miller said.
"He is a good speaker and he is very popular with a lot of support," Miller said. "He will make the case on why the president should be re-elected."
West Virginia has around 30 delegates. Miller's wife, Teresa, is an alternate.
Miller's son, Paul Miller II, is a guest of his at the convention. The 13-year-old is interviewing the state's convention delegates for a school project.
The Millers wanted to show their son what the election process was like and the importance of being an active participant and having people registered to vote.
"I wanted to show him that he can play an important role," Paul Miller said. "This election is about my son and all the children and the future of this country."
Sue Thorn, of Wheeling, the Democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District running against incumbent U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., was planning to arrive by noon today at the Democratic National Convention as a guest of the West Virginia delegation.
"We'll be staying through Thursday night. A lot of it is to get out and meet people and have a chance to talk with some of the West Virginia delegation while they are all in one place," Thorn said.
"I also want to talk with - hopefully - some of the people I will be serving with when I'm elected in the fall. I'm looking forward to that and it would be good to talk with some of the people," she said.
Thorn said she was looking forward to seeing former President Bill Clinton speak to the convention delegates tonight.
Thorn said her experiences over the past year have been positive for her first run for public office. She has been involved in a lot of grassroots and door-to-door campaigning throughout the district.
One thing she has found positive for her campaign is that during the May primary she and McKinley were unopposed and Thorn received 13,000 more votes than he did, Thorn said.
"It is a very viable campaign... this is winnable," she said.
