“The dream lives on…”

The crowd is going wild for Sen. Ted Kennedy. “It is so wonderful to be here,” he says. No doubt. His voice sounds strained, his hair looks patchy. His illness has clearly taken a toll. But he is revved up.

The crowd is going wild for Sen. Ted Kennedy. “It is so wonderful to be here,” he says. No doubt. His voice sounds strained, his hair looks patchy. His illness has clearly taken a toll. But he is revved up.

Now Kennedy is pledging to be “be there next January” to see Obama inaugurated. Everyone is chanting “Teddy!” and “Uncle Teddy!” and waving a sea of blue “Kennedy” signs.

**

He was introduced by a tribute video that credited him with a long list of legislation: anti-discrimination laws, community health centers, increases in the minimum wage, Headstart for poor kids, better schools, college grants, and body armour for troops

“For me this is a season of hope — … a new hope tht we will break the old grid lock and guarantee that every American will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.” Again, the crowd goes wild.

**

This November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans… The dream lives on…”

**

It’s full Kennedy press for Obama. Caroline Kennedy, who led his veep search, kicked it off by saying, “Never had someone inspire me the way people tell me my father inspired them. But I do now…”