LIVE from Spokane: Convention in session

The 2008 Washington State Democratic Convention is now officially in session here in Spokane with this morning's call to order. We've heard several welcome messages from Spokane County Democrats, including Senator Chris Marr, and listened to Chairman Pelz' report to the party.

Greg Nickels has just been appointed as Temporary Chair of the convention, and is introducing Senator Patty Murray, who spoke last night at the gala banquet.

UPDATE: Murray largely repeated her remarks from last night, so I'll just briefly summarize the main points of her speech:

• We need to elect Barack Obama as our next President.
• George W. Bush has failed America.
• Chris Gregoire is doing a terrific job as governor - we need to keep her working for us in Olympia.
• It's time to send Mark Mays, George Fearing, and Darcy Burner to Congress to join our congressional delegation.
• The right wing agenda has been disastrous for America. Veterans, children, seniors, and working families have been left out in the cold by the Bush administration and its Republican allies.
• We need to elect Barack Obama as our next President.

"Thanks to Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, every child in America knows that they can be anything they want to be," Murray told the delegates.