From Charlotte, North Carolina -
After several days of political fun, Democrats will officially tap the gavel and kick off their national convention on Tuesday, starting the process to nominate President Obama for a second term in the White House.
"I think he's done a good job," said the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, who is the chairman of the Georgia Democratic Party delegation at this year's convention.
"I'll think he'll win," Lowery told me at a formal event for top delegates from Georgia.
"I think he deserves a second term."
That's pretty much been the sentiment in a variety of interviews that I have done here in Charlotte in recent days - strong support for the President, and no sense that anyone is ready to back down to Mitt Romney and the Republican Party.
As for what President Obama should say - Democrats want him to be more aggressive in making his case to the voters.
"He needs to emphasize to the nation that some of the things that he wants to, he tried to do, cannot be done because the Congress won't allow him to do it," argued delegate Betty Simmons of Oklahoma.
Just like last week with Republicans, you could feel the energy building as the delegates sat down for their first delegation meetings, almost like a pep rally feel before a big game.
"Go Democrats!" yelled Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern at a meeting of Buckeye State delegates, where standing ovations were the rule for Democrats from all over the state.
Ohio Democrats were especially riled up about a recent political dustup back home over early voting hours, which led to the firing of two men from a county board of elections panel by the Republican Secretary of State.
Those two board members were given a heroes welcome by delegates, as Democrats argue that the GOP is trying its best to restrict voting in order to win in November.
"We're not going to let them steal the elections," bellowed Tom Ritchie. "We're going to fight like hell and stand up for the voters."
Meanwhile, Democrats from all over were comparing notes on how best to get out the vote back home.
"We're building neighborhood teams, we're building stuff on college campuses centered around first time voters," said 22 year old Dominique Gelin of Orlando, Florida, who just graduated from the University of Central Florida.
"People are fired up," Gelin told me, "especially in Florida."
Now Democrats get to make their case for the next three days, to see if they can start to close the deal on the Obama re-election bid.
New polls continue to indicate a very close race in states like Ohio and Florida, with Election Day just nine weeks away.
