Opening Day

The Kerry-Okies -- from left, Kathy North, Cerita Morley, Debbie Hogue-Downing and Lisa Pryor -- are delegates from Oklahoma.  (Don Bartletti / LAT)

Majestic Magnate, left, from Harris County, Texas, and Isela Castanon-Williams from El Paso, Texas, demonstrate the diversity of their state’s delegation.  (Rick Loomis / LAT)

Betsy Wells, a delegate from Kings Mountain, N.C., celebrates the opening of the convention.  (Rick Loomis / LAT)

Convention Chair Bill Richardson and Democratic National Committee Chair Terry McAuliffe call the convention to order.  (Mark Boster / LAT)

Former President Jimmy Carter does an interview with CNN before the start of the convention.  (Mark Boster / LAT)

The 2004 Democratic National Convention opened this afternoon with the presentation of colors.  (Mark Boster / LAT)

Gayorgiahne E. Fridman, a California delegate from Stockton, with her Bill and Hillary Clinton dolls.  (Mark Boster / LAT)

Florida Democratic Party chair Scott Maddox: “We are a little leery of electronic machines here in Florida, but we got it to go,” after logging into the computer that will cast his delegation’s vote.  (Rick Loomis / LAT)

Florida delegates hoist a banner showing their lingering feelings about the last presidential election.  (Rick Loomis / LAT)

Former President Jimmy Carter waves before speaking at the convention.  (Mark Boster / LAT)

Former Vice President Al Gore addresses the Democratic National Convention.  (Mark Boster / LAT)

Former Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, bid farewell to the crowd at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.  (Rick Loomis / LAT)

Bloggers have their own section in the Fleet Center as they track the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.  (Don Bartletti / LAT)