Charlotte, NC (KSDK) -- Hundreds of delegates from Missouri and Illinois are in Charlotte this week for the 46th Democratic National Convention. Last time around, 2008, the democrats were nominating the man who would eventually become president. This time, they're drumming up support in hopes of keeping him in office.
"I think this is a chance for us to show the world that out party is one of inclusion and our party is one that wants to move the ball forward," said Deb Dubin, an elected Missouri delegate from Clayton.
"Attending conventions is for those like me - a political junkie - is always exciting and rewarding," explained Barb Brown, who is a Randolph County resident and vice chair of the Illinois Democratic Party.
And even though it's all about the dems this week, Dubin said thoughts of Missouri still trigger a certain topic: Republican Rep. Todd Akin and his now two-week-old misstep regarding rape and abortion.
"We are getting that reaction, but he won the primary fair and square and we'll run against him against him and we think we have a compelling story to tell, a very positive one to tell about Claire McCaskill," said Dubin.
She went on to say that's the idea this week - to tell the positive stories about all democrats running for office.
"We're gonna come from Charlotte back to St. Louis and back to all over the state of Missouri and we're gonna work hard to get those democrats elected to office," she added.
"Everybody's looking with such anticipation for the arrival of the president," said Brown. "We kind of have our eyes wide open now in a way that we didn't four years ago because I don't think the country understood the condition that this president was gonna face when he was sworn into office at the end of the Bush administration."
President Obama is set to take the stage with Vice President Joe Biden to accept their nominations on Thursday night. First Lady Michelle Obama takes the stage Tuesday night. And on Wednesday, we'll hear from former President Bill Clinton.