The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, and a Minnesota mayor got a coveted, prime-time speaking spot that earned him a standing ovation.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been a dependable and forceful defender of President Barack Obama before and during his term, and his speech on the party's biggest stage delivered the same fierce support for the president's record.
When Rybak took to the stage just after 7 p.m., he certainly seemed to enjoy his moment as he was welcomed by loud chants of "R.T., R.T." from the Minnesota delegation, which included Gov. Mark Dayton, Rep. Keith Ellison and others.
Rybak's remarks began with a rundown of the president's record on stimulus, the auto bailout, health care and the successful killing of Osama bin Laden. Next, he turned his attention to criticizing Romney and congressional Republicans for failing to work with the president in the past four years.
He wrapped up his speech with stories of his Minnesota upbringing before finishing with a rousing rallying call that brought the crowd to its feet.
The first night of the convention featured plenty of big names -- including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, but Michelle Obama's speech was the summit of the lineup.
Also on Tuesday, a video honoring late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy highlighted his 1994 victory over Mitt Romney, and it earned a lot of positive response from the crowd.
