Delegates are gathering in Los Angeles for the Democratic Party convention to nominate Al Gore as their presidential candidate. Mr Gore is still behind the Republican Party candidate, George W Bush, in the opinion polls. The polls show that Al Gore trails George W Bush by anywhere between 3% and 14%, although most surveys show that he has gained some ground by selecting Joe Lieberman as his running mate.
Police officers will attempt to prevent thousands of protesters from spoiling the party, although some Democrats are more worried about Bill Clinton's impact on the convention and whether he would overshadow Al Gore's big week. Mr Clinton is scheduled to speak tonight. The President has already cut back on public engagements for fear that he might overshadow Al Gore. A series of scheduled interviews, including one on the Internet have been cancelled. Mr Clinton and his wife Hillary have attended a series of high profile fundraising functions in the past week. Mr Gore has failed to gain the same level of coverage for his campaign.
Demonstrators gathered yesterday in the first of many protests planned to coincide with the Convention. As temperatures reached 30° Celcius (86° Farenheit), supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamala, the former Black Panther who was sentenced to death 18 years ago for killing a white Philadelphia police officer, gathered for speeches and music. Police, some of whom wore helmets and riot gear, monitored the demonstration.
