Barack Obama [Images] accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at the Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado on Thursday night. During his acceptance speech, Obama stressed on the need for change in America and slammed the Republican party's eight-year-rule.

Obama inspires Democrats

He outlined his plans to lead the country into an era of change -- after "eight years of Bush's failed policies".

"Today is a defining moment," said Obama, who created history by being the first African-American presidential nominee of a major party.

Barack Obama, in his own words

"This election is our chance to keep the American promise alive," he told the 80,000 strong audience, who cheered him on with slogans of 'yes, we can'.

Taking on his rival John McCain [Images], Obama accused the Republican presidential nominee of being out of touch.

While talking about the economic slowdown in America, Obama said, "John McCain doesn't get it."

Bill Clinton shines at the meet

He slammed McCain's policies on the Iraq war, the economy and health care, accusing him of following in the footsteps of the Bush administration.

He also countered the criticism by the McCain camp -- about his lack of experience in foreign affairs -- pointing out that the Republican government diverted attention and funds to the Iraq war when the focus should have been on Afghanistan.

'Why I switched to Obama'

He told his attentive audience, including wife Michelle and vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, "John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell -- but he won't even go to the cave where he lives."

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and former vice president and Nobel laureate Al Gore [Images] were among the other speakers on Thursday.
 
Singer Sheryl Crow [Images] performed at the venue, and the crowd sang along with her song 'A Change will do us good.'

During his performance, singer Stevie Wonder kept on chanting Obama's name and 'Yes we can', along with the crowd.
 
Obama had apparently written the first draft of his speech last week and had reworked it, with his team of speech writers and his most senior advisers on domestic and foreign policy, throughout the week.

The speech focused on introducing Obama and his policies, since there are concerns in the Democratic camp that several Americans may still not know him fully.

The Senator's speech coincided with the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legendary 'I have a dream' speech. The civil rights activist had hoped that the day would come soon when a person would be judged only by the 'content of his character and not the colour of his skin.'
 
The early part of the evening saw a speech by Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, who marched with Dr King in Selma, and was brutally beaten by then Governor George Wallace's thugs. He still carries the massive scars from the fateful day.
 
Meanwhile, the McCain camp has taken digs at the 'imperial' Democratic stage, dubbing it the 'Temple of Obama,' and 'Barackopolis.'
 
The Obama campaign have maintained that they wanted the stage to look like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial

Image: Senator Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention.

Text: Aziz Haniffa in Denver | Photograph: Paresh Gandhi