Matt Sullivan, Reuters

In a surprise move, Republican presidential candidate John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Here, they appear before a cheering throng in Dayton, Ohio, Friday.

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Brian Snyder, Reuters

Barack Obama cast his presidential nomination as proof that no dreams are too high, savoring a historic moment for himself and the nation Thursday before setting out on a difficult struggle to set another milestone for a black American.

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Fredy Perojo, AOL

Who: Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner
The Speech: Warner, a Senate candidate, gave the convention's keynote address -- the same slot that put Barack Obama on the map. His opening: "The most important contest of our generation has begun. Not the campaign for the presidency ... but the race for the future." Watch Video

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Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Barack Obama caught flack for his speech at the Democratic National Convention before it even happened. Republicans mocked the newly confirmed presidential nominee for his flashy stage setting, which they said resembles a temple.

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Max Whittaker, Getty Images

Energy: All of the power being consumed at the Pepsi Center for the Democratic National Convention is either from renewable sources like the sun or covered by carbon offsets (payments to utilities that produce rewable energy), said Damon Jones, a spokesman for the DNC Committee.

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Mark Wilson, Getty Images

Democrats formally nominated Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as their vice presidential candidate Wednesday. In accepting the nod in Denver, Biden praised Sen. Barack Obama as the "wise leader" the country needs while slamming presumptive GOP nominee John McCain as "more of the same."

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