term and defends his administration against republican attacks. >> it is not his words that people have to listen to, it is his action and his record. >> i've got one piece of advice for you about the romney/ryan game plan. punt it away. >> joe biden also accepts his nomination tonight. >> we must continue to move forward. >> a week after mitt romney's convention in tampa, democrats are trying to get the last word. >> all of a sudden, their heart was bleeding for the middle class, whoa. >> now, cnn turn, the spotlight on one of the biggest platforms in american politics. this is the democratic national convention. this is barack obama and joe biden's night. >> i believed in you. i bet on you. i'll make that bet any day of the week. that bet is paying off for america. >> this is america's choice. we'd like to welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world to this the democratic national convention in charlotte, north carolina. president obama is telling supporters he's looking forward to giving his acceptance speech tonight, laying out his vision for the future. a senior campaign official tells cnn tonight's speech will be, quote, bigger than just drawing contrasts between the president and mitt romney. >> before the president steps on to the podium, vice president joe biden accepts his nomination and describes what working with the president is like. and in what is likely to be a very moving moment, former congresswoman gabrielle giffords will lead the pledge of allegiance tonight. as she recovering from a bullet to the head from a shooting of course last year. tonight's procession was moved indoors. convention planners were worried, they said, about the weather. doesn't appear to be a problem right now. it was raining onnd off throughout the day today. as we gear up for tonight's big speech, let's bring in our chief national correspondent john king. >> four years a the president used that big convention speech as a springboard to this, a big victory in the election and a changed map of u.s. presidential politics. as he speaks tonight, here's the challenge. it's a different climate. a much tougher map. still, advantage obama. all nine of our tossup states, states he carried four years ago, anderson. >> saving some of the most show-stopping performances for tonight. wolf blitzer is closer to the action on the floor. wolf, take it away. >> these delegates, anderson, are getting ready to see some big-name political stars like caroline kennedy. also some hollywood stars like scarlett johansson and our own cnn correspondents as well are joining us. brianna keilar. john berman. kate boulden. they are all down on this arena floor. also our candy crowley is stationed above the podium where the president and vice president will give big speeches tonight. >> we've heard what's previously been reported. the president wanting to lay out some specific goals. some promises, if you will. but as someone once said, high expectations are a heavy burden. you'll also hear the president according to some excerpts we've got try to tamp down those expectations that really were seen for him over the past four years. he'll say, i won't pretend the path i'm offering is quick or easy. you didn't elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. and the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have build up over decades. it will require common effort, shared responsibility and the kind of bold persistent experimentation that franklin roosevelt pursued during the only crisis worse than that one. by the way, the president will add, those of us who carry on his party's legacy should remember that not every problem can be remedied with another government program or dictate from washington. so at once saying this is going to take a while, which previous speakers have said, in particular, bill clinton. but also addressing what's been one of the republican's big criticisms of this gathering. and that is that it is very focused on government solutions and the government as the one entity that can help what ails america. wolf. >> candy, thanks. bill clinton last night described president obama as someone in his words who's cool on the outside but who burns for america on the inside. during an exclusive interview for her documentary, "obama revealed," our chief white house correspondent jessica yellin spoke with the president, asked him about that coolness that we all know, at least on the outside. >> it's a consistent description of the president. sometimes it's cool as a positive, as in cool under fire. but sometimes it canning a negative, as in cool or aloof. a lot of people describe you as cool. that cuts both ways. fair description? >> you know, it's interesting. people who know me well and people on the campaign trail, i mean, you've campaigned with me, i don't think they've described me that way. i am in a lot of ways an ext extrovert when it comes to folks outside the beltway, and love campaigning and really get energized from it. i think what is true is that when i'm making decisions, i try to pull back a little bit and take the long view it and not get caught up in the emotions of the moment. i think that's been helpful on tough decisions that we've had to make. >> that's how it's helped. how has it hurt? >> i'm not sure it's hurt except maybe for some of my relations i think inside the beltway here in washington. i think that you know sometimes michelle and i not doing the circuit and going out to dinners and with folks is perceived with us being cool. it really has more to do with us being parents. we need to make sure we're good parents and we're there for our kids. >> now, that's a conversation we can have another time, whether you can pull back on doing outreach to members of congress as a president because you're a parent. but the larger challenge for him tonight is to not be that cool no drama obama but to reconnect to all those supporters who felt that passion for him and it's diminished over time. he can't relate that fire. he's not going to electrify in the same way. but he has to find a balance. >> he's going to certainly try. that's very important. jessica, thanks very much. >> let's check in with our panel. david gergen, gloria borger, john king. gloria, you were saying? >> it's interesting to hear president obama talk about his aloofness because i also think with mitt romney you have kind of the same issue. people say about mitt romney when you meet him one on one and when you're with him one on one, he can be warmer than people say president obama is. but when mitt romney's in front of a crowd, he gets sometimes like a deer in the headlights and he's not comfortable in front of a crowd and self-edits. whereas president obama, he basically said that to jessica, he gets the energy from the crowd and seems to love it. so you have two presidential candidates who are aloof, i would say, but in very different ways. >> it's a different challenge tonight though for this president. he's a known entity for four years. if people find him aloof, they're unlikely to change their mind in this speech. so it's a very interesting challenge for an incumbent president. a different role for him than ur years ago. i was talking to a democratic pollster today. he said there's a lot of goals. you could sum it up in one question. give people a good answer to the question, why and how will you life be better with a second term? >> we're moments away from joe biden. some big stars are here. we'll hear from actress ashley judd and the foo fighters perform live. we'll be right back. great shot. how did the nba become the hottest league on the planet? by building on the cisco intelligent network they're able to serve up live video, and instant replays, creating fans from berlin to beijing. what can we help you build? nice shot kid. the nba around the world built by the only company that could. cisco. dad vo: ok, time for bed, kiddo. lights out. ♪ (sirens) (train horn) ♪ vo: wherever our trains go, the economy comes to life. norfolk southern. one line, infinite possibilities. vice president, mrs. biden, listening to their son place his nomination for vice presidential nominee. >> we have miles to go before we sleep but barack obama and joe biden are leading the way forward. four years ago, because i was going to iraq, i asked you to be there for my dad. and you were. and for last four years, i can say with certainty he has been there for us. [ applause ] in moments both public and private, he's the father i've always known, the grandfather my children love and adore, and the vice president our nation needs. so tonight, mr. chairman, it's my great honor to place into nomination for the office of vice president of the united states, my father, my hero, joe biden. i move to suspend the rules and nomination by acclamation joe bid biden. as a democratic vice presidential candidate. [ applause ] >> the son of joe biden saying he wants to suspend the former rules, the formal roll call, and nominate joe biden. >> i know joe must be emotional right now. when your son calls you a hero, you got to feel it in the heart. we have a motion to suspend the rules and nominate joe biden by acclamation as a democratic party's vice presidential candidate. is there a second? all in favor of the motion say aye. all opposed. the ayes have it. the motion is adopted. pursuant to the convention rules, joe biden has been invited to make an acceptance speech. ♪ celebrate good times come on ♪ there's a party going on right here ♪ ♪ a celebration ♪ to last for the year ♪ bring your good times ♪ and your laughter too >> clearly very moved joe biden. >> very emotional guy. nobody ever called him too cool or too aloof. lost his mom in a tragic accident. he took the train home to wilmington every single night to be with beau and his brother hunter. it's such an emotional time to see him there. with his son, the attorney general. and a major in the reserves to nominate him. very emotional. >> he gets a lot of flak for ad-libbing on the stump. but as a campaigner, ari fleisher, what is he like, effective? >> you look at this as a race for the undecided voters, i don't think he's determinative. i don't think the vice presidential candidates are going to be what counts in this race. races will come down to the two presidential candidates. on the margin, is he, i don't really think so. i just don't think it makes a big difference. >> i have to tell you, i think the ryan selection changed mitt romney's fortune. he was drifting. he was about to lose this race. he turned his position around. now, in the end, it may not matter that much, but in the middle of this election campaign -- >> ryan does help him in wisconsin. i think pennsylvania's been in reach all along. >> candy crowley has the house democratic leader nancy pelosi. candy. >> thanks, anderson. i am here with the house democratic leader, the leader of the democrats in the house. you were one speak. so i want to take us off the presidential message of the night and just ask you whether you think there is any chance at all that democrats could take over the house again and perhaps make you speaker. >> well, it's not about making me speaker. it's about winning the house for the american people. and with barack obama at the head of the ticket and joe biden on the ticket, we believe that we have an excellent chance. in fact, we're fighting very hard to win in the drive for 25, to win 25 seats, to take back the house. >> one of the things is we know there are some house members, some senators and some governors, obviously, who didn't come here, and in part some of them are worried that having president obama on the top of the ticket isn't great in their particular areas. >> that isn't so for our house members. i can't speak beyond that. they're home, campaigning. in a year when your district is new in redistricting, many members who are in races want to get to know their districts. what a better way than watch president obama deliver his acceptance speech from home with their constituents. >> this is your 17th convention -- 13th, sorry. let me ask you, what is the one thing you want to hear president obama say tonight? >> what he has been saying. that this is a very clear choice. we can choose a path to go forward that he is suggesting or a path to take us back. it's the clearest choice we've had in a very long time in elections. and that -- how he spells that out i think is important not just for the election but for the future of our country. i know he'll do a fabulous job tonight. >> congresswoman nancy pelosi, head of the house democrats, looking, hoping maybe to have it be a majority party again come november. back to you, anderson. >> candy, thanks very much. a new generation of the kennedy family obviously is now getting involved in politics. we're going to be joined tonight by caroline kennedy. in a cnn exclusive, her son jack joining us as well. also former congresswoman gabrielle giffords who survived an assassination attempt is here to lead tonight's pledge of allegiance. ♪ forz(power!) andiamo! andiamo! (let's go! let's go!) avanti! avanti! (keep going! keep going!) hahaha...hahahaha! you know ronny, folks who save hundreds of dollars by switching to geico sure are happy. and how happy are they jimmy? happier than christopher columbus with speedboats. that's happy! get happy. get geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. as we await the foo fighters, let's go to brianna keilar on the floor. brianna. >> hi there, wolf. i'm standing here with an actress i'm sure you recognize, america ferrera. you're involved with voter latino, specifically a program there called america for america, trying to mobilize youth and latino voters. how do you think president obama can harness the latino vote? >> i think latinos care about the issues that all americans care about. we care about health care, education. we care about jobs. we care about the economy. i think that it's very obvious at the moment that the latino community is being noticed and heard. and there are 22 million latino americans eligible to vote in this election. and with the president's deferred action policy that he passed earlier this year, it's obvious we are gaining in our wins. >> talk about that. how big of a deal was that -- actually, we're going to listen to the foo fighters. they're getting started here on the stage at the democratic convention. >> it's an honor to be here. i think this song makes perfect sense here tonight. ♪ too alarming now to talk about ♪ ♪ take your pictures down and shake it out ♪ ♪ truth or consequence say it aloud ♪ ♪ use that evidence race it around ♪ ♪ there goes my hero watch him as he goes ♪ ♪ there goes my hero he's ordinary ♪ ♪ don't the best of them bleed it out ♪ ♪ while the rest of them peter out ♪ ♪ truth or consequence say it aloud ♪ ♪ use that evidence race it around ♪ ♪ there goes my hero watch him as he goes ♪ ♪ there goes my hero he's ordinary ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ kudos my hero leaving all the best ♪ ♪ you know my hero the one that's on ♪ ♪ there goes my hero watch him as he goes ♪ ♪ there goes my hero he's ordinary ♪ ♪ there goes my hero watch him as he goes ♪ ♪ there goes my hero he's ordinary ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ a million miles away ♪ you're sitting in the distance ♪ ♪ to whom it may concern ♪ i think i've lost my way ♪ getting good at starting over ♪ ♪ every time that i return ♪ i'm learning to walk again ♪ i believe i've waited long enough ♪ ♪ when the war began ♪ learning to talk again ♪ can't you see i've waited long enough ♪ ♪ ♪ do you remember the days ♪ we built these paper mountains ♪ ♪ and sat and watched them burn ♪ ♪ i think i found my place ♪ can't you feel it growing stronger ♪ ♪ little conquerors ♪ i'm learning to walk again ♪ i believe i've waited long enough ♪ ♪ where do i begin ♪ i'm learning to talk again ♪ can't you see i've waited long enough ♪ ♪ where do i begin ♪ now [ cheers and applause ] ♪ for the very first time ♪ don't you pay no mind ♪ set me free again ♪ you keep alive ♪ a moment at a time ♪ but still inside ♪ a whisper to a liar ♪ to sacrifice ♪ but knowing to survive ♪ the first decline ♪ another state of mind ♪ i'm on my knees ♪ i'm praying for a sign ♪ forever ♪ whenever ♪ i never wanna die ♪ i never wanna die ♪ i never wanna die ♪ i'm on my knees i never wanna die ♪ ♪ i'm dancin' on my grave ♪ i'm runnin' through the fire ♪ forever, whatever ♪ i never wanna die snoits i never wanna leave ♪ ♪ i never say good-bye ♪ whoa whoa forever whatever ♪ learning to walk again ♪ i believe i've waited long enough ♪ ♪ where do i begin ♪ i'm learn to talk again ♪ can't you see i've waited long enough ♪ ♪ where do i begin ♪ i'm learning to walk again ♪ i believe i've waited long enough ♪ ♪ i'm learning to talk again ♪ can't you see i've waited long enough ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> thank you very much! >> wow. foo fighters here at the democratic national con convention. doesn't get any better than that. piers morgan is listening. he's got a special guest, ashley judd. that was amazing, piers. go ahead. >> thanks, wolf. i'm here with ashley judd. you were just showing us some grooves there, ashley. >> i love to dance. it's a great day to be a democrat. >> you were also caught on camera with mary j. blige earlier. >> that's kind of one of the things that haunts my dreams. i'm just getting down and there's actually a secret camera. at least it was with ambassador hunt. you know what it looks like in our hotel room in our night gowns. >> you're actually a tennessee delegate. on your hand you have the word "opportunity." what's that all about? >> one of the things -- i love the speeches. i think all of them have been very powerf and effective in their own way, from tammy duckworth, multigenerations of people in service. mayor castro's really struck out to me. because he kept repeating this refrain. opportunity breathes prosperity. opportunity breathes po s prosp. i do believe we build our economy from the middle class out and we don't slam the door on poor people coming up behind us. we give them the opportunity to work their way into our economy. and so i talk a lot about health and obama care. which i use in a positive way. not derisively. the numbers in tennessee are already good for childrenho can't be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. a lot of it boils down to opportunity. i pledge allegiance to my flag in the spirit of opportunity. >> how excited were you last night when bill clinton turned on his stuff? >> president clinton gave us a master class in civics, in history, and the most important part was point by point he allucidated what president obama's platform was and contrasted it with the mitt romney platform. facts with gravity and humor. it was vintage clinton. >> the only problem is if you're barack obama and you're listening to bill clinton last night, you must be thinking, how the hell do i follow that. now, you're a performer what do you do? >> all he has to do is be himself. he is a good man and he is a great president. i loved mr. obama's talk as well. again, just be herself. she shared three generations of personal narrative. in the story. and here's the american dream. and every point was so salient. and relevant to this election. they're all special in their own way. he's going to kill it. he's going to knock it out. his videos get standing ovations in this room. it's going to be great. >> that is true. finally, apparently you're a friend of clint eastwood's, is that right? >> mr. eastwood and i know one another from hanging around hollywood. >> be honest, co