and ktvu's ken pritchett is live in charlotte with how delegates are scrambling to secure a seat now that the president's speech has been moved to a much smaller venue. >> reporter: california's delegation got a taste of what to expect tonight, after their experience last night when many guests were not allowed into the arena, just as president clinton was about to speak. it was all due to overcrowding. to see musical acts such as mark anthony warm up, there is reason to be at the convention early. but eight hours early? >> i got here at 2:00 just to make sure that i have a good seat. >> reporter: delegate javier gonzalez was not the only one. we found delegates catching up on work, others sleeping in their coveted seats. others tagged with familiar names, trying to save a spot. why? >> yesterday was a very crazy night, people trying to fight for spots, whenever was open. >> reporter: they say tonight will be worse. >> this place will be wall to wall and the fire marshal will have a stroke by 9:30. >> reporter: originally the president was going to speak in the bank of america stadiu

in charlotte, ken pritchett, ktvu news. >>> north carolina is considered a battleground state. a new state by elon university shows mitt romney is heading obama by 47% to 43%. another poll that tends to lean democratic show it is race tied in the tar hill state. >>> stay with ktvu for live coverage throughout the convention. ken pritchett will be in charlotte through thursday where president obama is expected to address 25,000 people outside in a football stadium. >>> coming up in 30 minutes touring the destruction. by the president say -- why the president says the damage from hurricane isaac could have been much worse. >>> an apology tonight from john burton after he suggested that republicans are using propaganda tactics similar to those used by the nazi's in world war ii. in a radio interview, burton said republicans are using the so called big lie. the same tactic used by nazi propagandist. republicans immediately criticized burton the democrat later issued a statement saying quote he humbly apologized. >>> seems that teens have found a new place to party, empty or foreclo

ken pritchett live in charlotte, north carolina now with the party platform that's a first. ken. >> reporter: frank we're talking about the party platform today and some of the messages coming out of this first day of the convention. democrats have a challenging argument to make in this convention. essentially to prove a negative that president obama's actions over the past four years prevented something to happen that many economists thought we were near and that's a near collapse of the economy. >> reporter: democratic leaders say the message will be more positive than what was seen at the republican convention. though delegates are ready for a fight. >> i'm ready. i'm ready to go. >> we're organizing all over san francisco to make calls to voters, we're ready. >> reporter: the long list of speakers are expected again and again to say we are better off than four years ago. one of several messages aimed at undecided voters. the party will speak from the stage as it speaks in its official party platform. bay area representative barbara lee helped draft it. >> our platform mov

ktvu's ken pritchett live at the convention hall to tell us about that and also the one person she never mentioned. ken-- >> reporter: well frank we didn't talk to a delegate today who wasn't excited about the prospect of hearing from michelle obama tonight. she talked about family, the presidency and took what could be seen as a not so subtle swipes at the opposition. first lady michelle obama entered to cheers and an arena full of delegates on their feet and an enthusiasm that endured through her speech. she says the enthusiasm has not changed for her husband. >> barack obama is still the same man i fell in love with all those years ago. >> reporter: she talked of their family scrapping to mange ends meet and as a young couple paying for college. >> we were so young, so in love. and so in debt. and that's why barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down. because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt. >> reporter: the first lady talked of her husband's accomplishment, health care an

in charlotte, ken pritchett, ktvu news. >>> north carolina is considered a battleground state. a new state by elon university shows mitt romney is heading obama by 47% to 43%. another poll that tends to lean democratic show it is race tied in the tar hill state. >>> stay with ktvu for live coverage throughout the convention. ken pritchett will be in charlotte through thursday where president obama is expected to address 25,000 people outside in a football stadium. >>> coming up in 30 minutes touring the destruction. by the president say -- why the president says the damage from hurricane isaac could have been much worse. >>> an apology tonight from john burton after he suggested that republicans are using propaganda tactics similar to those used by the nazi's in world war ii. in a radio interview, burton said republicans are using the so called big lie. the same tactic used by nazi propagandist. republicans immediately criticized burton the democrat later issued a statement saying quote he humbly apologized. >>> seems that teens have found a new place to party, empty or foreclo

ktvu's ken pritchett live at the convention hall to tell us about that and also the one person she never mentioned. ken-- >> reporter: well frank we didn't talk to a delegate today who wasn't excited about the prospect of hearing from michelle obama tonight. she talked about family, the presidency and took what could be seen as a not so subtle swipes at the opposition. first lady michelle obama entered to cheers and an arena full of delegates on their feet and an enthusiasm that endured through her speech. she says the enthusiasm has not changed for her husband. >> barack obama is still the same man i fell in love with all those years ago. >> reporter: she talked of their family scrapping to mange ends meet and as a young couple paying for college. >> we were so young, so in love. and so in debt. and that's why barack has fought so hard to increase student aid and keep interest rates down. because he wants every young person to fulfill their promise and be able to attend college without a mountain of debt. >> reporter: the first lady talked of her husband's accomplishment, health care an

our election 2012 coverage starts with ken pritchett who is live in charlotte with a look at the protesters message, ken. >> reporter: where i'm standing right now you can see the spirit and security here in charlotte. this street right here has barricades for several city blocks. it'll be shut down come tuesday along with other streets here in downtown once the convention begins. to the left you can see a lot of tourists taking pictures of the stand sculpture of president obama made from sand brought in from the beach. >> the point is we don't have an option to vote for change. >> reporter: at a park close to downtown that -- charlotte they gathered. >> the problem is these parties don't represent us. >> they represent corporations not the people. >> reporter: their numbers were relatively low, less than a thousand and their march mostly unevidentful as they were surrounded by a very visible and constant police presence downtown. >> tight, very tight. you can't go one block and not see several security officers. >> reporter: charlotte resident ballard says this city has been waiting years

ktvu's ken pritchett is in charlotte and that is where he talked to two california politicians. >> come on down, everybody. it is happening down this street. >> reporter: it was all fun. nothing to worry about outside of rain, carolina fest, a party that took up several city blocks. >> charlotte is wonderful. love it. it is hot but cooler than dallas. >> reporter: they came to hear live music. [ music playing ] >> reporter: including james taylor and talked politics and their support for president obama. >> we know what the situation was before we, you know, before president obama was elected and -- you know, lot of the things he said he would do he did. >> reporter: many from california who this morning celebrated nancy pelosi and her 25 years of public service. mayor ed lee is here. >> appeal to the asian voters who see me as the first asian mayor of a major city and do my part. i think it is essentially. >> reporter: nancy pelosi is hoping a strong turn out for president obama will lead to the long shot retaking the of house. 25 seats are needed. >> we think the driver for 25 is doab

ktvu's ken pritchett tells us what happened at the end of clinton's speech that really brought down the house. ken? >> reporter: president clinton used his own experience as president describing how he started with the poor economy, and ended with one that was skyrocketing, suggesting that the current economy could do the same if president obama is reelected. president bill clinton, welcomed like a rock star, energized this crowd like no other. his was a presidency that started with economic problems. but he said mr. obama's situation was worse. >> no president, not me, not any of my predecessors, no one could have fully repaired all the damage that he found in just four years. >> reporter: mr. clinton focused on the economy with harsh criticism of republican economics woven in. >> the republican argument against the president reelection was actually pretty simple. we left him a total mess. he hasn't cleaned it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in. >> reporter: he said they're fighting job growth. >> the republicans balked the president's jobs plan, costing new jobs. >> report

ktvu's ken pritchett tells us what happened at the end of clinton's speech that really brought down the house. ken? >> reporter: president clinton used his own experience as president describing how he started with the poor economy, and ended with one that was skyrocketing, suggesting that the current economy could do the same if president obama is reelected. president bill clinton, welcomed like a rock star, energized this crowd like no other. his was a presidency that started with economic problems. but he said mr. obama's situation was worse. >> no president, not me, not any of my predecessors, no one could have fully repaired all the damage that he found in just four years. >> reporter: mr. clinton focused on the economy with harsh criticism of republican economics woven in. >> the republican argument against the president reelection was actually pretty simple. we left him a total mess. he hasn't cleaned it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in. >> reporter: he said they're fighting job growth. >> the republicans balked the president's jobs plan, costing new jobs. >> report

ken pritchett will bring us live reports from the convention >>> the price of oil jumped today after a federal reserve chairman suggested that the fed could take action to help stimulate the economy. with interest rates already at record lows and possibly going lower investors are looking for profits in the oil market. the do you added ninety points. traders also liked news from europe of ways to stabilize the price there. >>> shares of facebook hit a new low today. shares of the net work site closed at 18.50. today two brokers cut their price for facebook stock because so many shares are out standing. . >>> it looks as though high gas prices want keep people from hitting the road this weekend. this is the east shore freeway through beshg lee where traffic is moving smooth. triple a predicts 2.900-0000 california residents will get in the car and hit the road this weekend. the average price for gas here in california is 4.15 a gallon >>> in less than three hours a major artery across san fireman bay will close for the weekend. crews will use a hydraulic system to raise the bridge dec

. >> three years after the new bridge opened, ktvu's ken pritchett looked at the process of taking the old cardena bridge apart. >> the asphalt has been stripped away in the middle of old cartena bridge there's now a huge hole with a view to the water below. the 1927 span is nearing its ends adds caltrans crews take it apart piece by piece. >> a lot of people have been letting us know if they will be setting up charges and having a controlled implosion. with the two bridges right next to it that's out of the question. >> reporter: the bridge will be disassembled not demolished. crews must be careful to contain toxic lead based paint. the steel will be recycle. it will cost $18,000 to renew a bridge that cost 8 million to build. >> it opened to traffic may 21st, 1927 which is the very day the charles lindburg landed in paris. because of that it was trumped in the news. >> reporter: the span was historic, in old photos you can see the bridge connecting to the lincoln highway making it part of the nation's most important coast to coast link. it was the bay area's first mayor bridge. and a

ktvu reporter ken pritchett is in charlotte and will report at 5:00 and 10:00. ktvu.com is streaming the convention live when we are not on the air. download the mobile app to your phone or tablet. >>> lucille packard's medical hospital broke ground. state assemblyman jerry hill and hp's meg whitman were among those in attendance. the 5 4u7b thousand square stood hospital expansion doubles the existing hospital size. it also adds 150 know patient rooms and is equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment. the hospital says it's expanding in order to respond to a growing communities it need. >> this is one of the foremost children's hospitals in the united states. we take some very difficult cases here and we are growing to meet that need. >> the expansion is part of the stanford university medical center's renewal project which is rebidding and modernizing if a us is there. >>> a severely wounded soldier is receiving a special gift in the south bay. army sargeant brian jurrjens suffered a broken leg. he and his wife had been living in a private milit

in charlotte, ken pritchett. >> ken, you were in tampa and charlotte. how would you compare the two conventions so far? >> reporter: well, obviously both of them were similar and weather played a key role in both of the conventions. it is difficult to determine the excitement level when you are inside the convention hall. it is something of an echo chamber. i can tell you last night was about the most enthusiasm i have seen in covering these conventions. republican or democrat when president clinton took to the stage. >> live from charlotte. thank you. >> you can watch him and right here on ktvu, our coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. we will also life stream the convention on ktvu.com. >>> oil time now is 7:18. continuing on with politics. california is a blue state favoring democrats. new york times political analyst puts president obama's chance of winning california at 99%. they are considered a sure thing for the democrats. it is still a critical place for the fundraiser. >> they raised more than $30 million of this cycle alone. more than new york, illin

but we begin with ken pritchett, inside the national convention where the president said times have changed but so have i have. >> reporter: we heard a lot of things that could be more rousy, more aimed at getting a reaction but the message was what we were looking for. the president says his plan restructure it is middle class but that it takes time. >> you elected me for the truth. and the truth is it will take more than a few years to fix challenges that have built over decades. >> reporter: republicans at their convention talked about america's problems not about how to fix those problems. >> all they had to offer was the same prescriptions they've had for the last 30 years. have a surplus? try a tax cut. deficit too high, try another. feel a cold coming on, take two tax cuts roll back some regulations and call us in the morning. >> reporter: mr. obama talked about the accomplishments about his administration over the last four years siting the bail out, the killing of bin web and -- killing of osama bin laden. >> after all you don't call russia our number one enemy, not al-qaida russia

but we begin with ken pritchett, inside the national convention where the president said times have changed but so have i have. >> reporter: we heard a lot of things that could be more rousy, more aimed at getting a reaction but the message was what we were looking for. the president says his plan restructure it is middle class but that it takes time. >> you elected me for the truth. and the truth is it will take more than a few years to fix challenges that have built over decades. >> reporter: republicans at their convention talked about america's problems not about how to fix those problems. >> all they had to offer was the same prescriptions they've had for the last 30 years. have a surplus? try a tax cut. deficit too high, try another. feel a cold coming on, take two tax cuts roll back some regulations and call us in the morning. >> reporter: mr. obama talked about the accomplishments about his administration over the last four years siting the bail out, the killing of bin web and -- killing of osama bin laden. >> after all you don't call russia our number one enemy, not al-qaida russia

ken pritchett will be live once again in charlotte with the scramble for seats for tonight's big speechill bring you president obama's address to the delegates live beginning at 7:00 this evening. >>> a solano county group purchased land for $13.5 million with the help of voter- approved bonds, donations and a big drop in land value. it was valued at $125 million back in 2008. when neighbors began their fight against plans for 370 homes on that sight. new plans call for a park, trail and a link to the bay area ridge trail. the town council has cleared the way to start over on an approval process for an expansion project. a group of citizens won a lawsuit to require an environmental impact report. >>> airline ticket prices are going up across the country, but not at san francisco international airport. the latest statistics show that san francisco passengers actually paid 2% less in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time last year. some experts say higher fuel costs and less airline competition have caused ticket prices to go up across the country, but an airline trade

ken pritchett will bring us live reports charlotte through thursday. >> a new mobile job resource is helping military veterans get back in to the work force. the hero to hire website helps veterans narrow down employment searches. officials are visiting 200 cities across the nation with the mobile job truck. >>> tomorrow and tuesday organizers will bring their job trucks to travis air force base. they will set up at air force support center from two to six tomorrow and then again from ten to four on tuesday. >>> the popular see's candy company getting ready to expand in the east. they got its start in loss in 1921 and has long been a favorite of westenners with the sweet tooth. warren buffet bought it in the early 70's and now managers have plans to launch an expangs that could reach as far as florida and washington dc. buffet is said to be a big fan, particularly the chocolate pops. >> a travel consultant taking deposits for flights in to space. they are taking bookings on behalf of a company in southern california trying to build a passenger carrying spaceship. the company said it'

ken pritchett will report when president obama is going to address the delegates. >>> this is outside chevron's refinery. they accuse the oil giant of polluting the air from the bay area to the amazon. they want company executives prosecuted for last month's fire. they expect to attend and including war protestors including cindy sheehan. and they want to run it under labor and community control. >>> new mobile job store is helping military veterans get back in the workforce. they help veterans narrow down employment searches to match interest and skills. they are visiting 200 cities across the nation providing information about job openings. there are 10 stops here in california. today and tuesday, they will bring the mobile truck to the travis air force base. they will set up at the air force support center from two to 6:00 p.m. tomorrow and 10 to four on tuesday. >>> legendary songwriter hall david has died. david put san jose on the musical map with do you know the way to san jose. and wrote lyrics for the biggest hits including i say a little prayer and raindrops keep falling on

ken pritchett will bring us live reports from charlotte from then until thursday, when the president is scheduled to address the delegates. >>> in this morning's weekly address, president obama praised the men and women in the armed forces. >> that means giving them a clear mission, and the equipment they need on the front lines. but it also means taking care of our veterans and their families. [ music ] >> the president met with soldiers at fort bliss, texas yesterday, which was the second anniversary marking the end of the combat mission in iraq. the president says the anniversary is a chance to appreciate how far the nation has come, but is also a reminder of how difficult the work is ahead in afghanistan. >>> meantime, both the president and mitt romney are campaigning in the central part of the country. president obama has two rallies in iowa, including a stop at an outdoor farming museum. >>> right now, republican presidential nominee mitt romney is go toke campaigning in ohio. this is a live look at his event in union terminal in cincinnati. john boehner now speaking. romney i