John Kerry

DENVER -- Speaking before the daily breakfast of the Arizona Democratic National Committee delegation, Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, addressed the weaknesses in the campaigns of Al Gore and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) while expressing high hopes for the 2008 election.

McAuliffe cautioned the Arizona delegates not to pay attention to national polls, which show Sen. John McCain (R-Phoenix) and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in a statistical tie.

"It's too early," he said, while also adding that he thought Obama could pull off an upset in McCain's home state.

"If we could win Arizona this year, it would set such a milestone for the Democratic Party. We would bury the Republicans for 25 years."

Check back tomorrow morning to view my sketchpad for day three of the Democratic National Convention, and go to my national blog to follow convention coverage by cartoonists from around the country.

The third day of the Democratic National Convention will be called to order at 5:00 PM EST on Wednesday, with a theme of "Securing America's Future."

The day will begin with the nominating process for President, including nominating speeches for U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), followed by a roll call vote.

The headline speaker will be vice presidential nominee, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.).

Featured speakers will include President Bill Clinton (D), U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

The full schedule is below.

Andrei Cherny is not a member of the Arizona delegation to the Democratic National Convention, but he is having an impact on the convention - and election - nonetheless.

Cherny, who joined the Arizona delegates in Denver, is no stranger to conventions. He negotiated and drafted the Democratic Party platform at the 2000 DNC, having worked as the chief speechwriter to then-vice president Al Gore. He was a top advisor to John Kerry during the primary phase of the Massachusetts senator's 2004 presidential bid, and has also advised former Pres. Clinton and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

For most of the 2008 campaign, Cherny, a Phoenix resident, has been touting his new book, "The Candy Bombers," about the 1948 Berlin airlift, and his fingerprints have been off the presidential race.

That is no longer the case, though. Cherny told PolitickerAZ.com today that he has taken on unofficial tasks within Barack Obama's organization.

Check out the winner and runner-ups for this week's Cartoon Caption Contest.

Care to come up with a caption for this cartoon? Click more for the rules and prizes!

The AP has details on the Napolitano endorsement.