DENVER -- In front of a sea of chanting, sign-waving delegates at the Democratic National Convention Monday night, Michelle Obama urged Americans to cast their votes for her husband, Sen. Barack Obama, as she cast her family as guided by bedrock American values with a desire to improve the world.

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"We want our children -- and all children in this nation -- to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them," she said.

"You work hard for what you want in life," she said. "Your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do ... you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."

"I come here as a mom whose girls are the heart of my heart and the center of my world," she added. "They're the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night. Their future -- and all our children's future -- is my stake in this election."

"And I come here as a daughter, raised on the South Side of Chicago by a father who was a blue collar city worker, and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me. My mother's love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, and her intelligence reflected in my own daughters," Michelle Obama said.

She also talked about Barack Obama being raised by a single mother who sometimes struggled to make ends meet and she describes their own challenges of juggling the demands of work and children.

In her remarks, and the short film that introduced her, she hoped to reassure voters that her husband is a lot like they are, despite all the attention given to his African father, his over-the-top minister and his exotic name.

And in an age when candidates' spouses face scrutiny, too, Obama also hoped to send the message that she a true believer in American values. The Obama campaign said Michelle Obama's life adds up to "a great American story: modest means but big dreams -- and encouragement from loving parents."

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When she finished speaking, she led her two daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, onto the stage, where the trio then spoke briefly with Barack Obama as he appeared on a giant video screen, live from Kansas City.

Michelle Obama's speech followed an electrifying, surprise appearance by ailing party icon Sen. Ted Kennedy, who called delegates to rally around "the cause of my life" in helping to elect Obama president.

Kennedy took the stage after being introduced by his daughter, Caroline, and following a short film tribute that recalled the senator's legislative battles over the years.

In a reference to his battle with brain cancer, Kennedy said, "I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate."

"My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, it is so wonderful to be here," he said. "And nothing, nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering."

Recalling his late brother's inaugural speech in 1964, Kennedy proclaimed that, "The torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans" if Obama is elected president.

Read Kennedy's speech in full here. And, watch video of Kennedy's speech here.

A list of high profile party members spoke throughout the evening, from leaders of the party's Hispanic Caucus to the president of the NARAL Pro-Choice America. Former President Jimmy Carter narrated a short film on efforts to fight poverty. And vice presidential nominee-to-be Joe Biden was also on the convention floor.

Clinton Camp Agitated

Meanwhile, Obama's representatives worked with former rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's camp on a deal to give her some votes in the roll call for the nomination -- but to then quickly end the process in a unanimous show of acclamation for Obama.

Clinton, scheduled to speak Tuesday night, preached reconciliation at a breakfast for New York Democrats. As supporters waved "Hillary Made History" signs, she took her own shot at McCain.

"Now, I understand that the McCain campaign is running ads trying to divide us," she said, referring to recent GOP television spots using her own earlier words against Obama. "I'm Hillary Clinton, and I do not approve that message," she said, to laughter and applause.

Some hard feelings remained between Obama and Clinton supporters. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged that Democrats "had not yet achieved the complete reconciliation that we need."

But she insisted from the posium Monday that, "Democrats will leave this Denver convention unified, organized and stronger than ever to take America in a new direction with Barack Obama and Joe Biden as president and vice president."

Striking a theme she hoped would resonate with the often-fractious party, Pelosi said a John McCain White House would simply be an extension of President Bush's.

"Republicans say John McCain has experience. We say, John McCain has the experience of being wrong," she said.

"On the most important foreign policy decision of our time, the war in Iraq -- a catastrophic mistake that has cost thousands of lives of our men and women in uniform and trillions of dollars, as well as has weakened our standing in the world and our capability to protect the American people -- Barack Obama is right and John McCain is wrong. Very, very wrong," Pelosi said.

She also reeled off a list of legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Congress: Backing to help rebuild the Gulf Coast for the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, recovery tax rebates, increasing the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years, mandatory improved automobile fuel efficiency for the first time in 32 years, an expansion of the G.I. Bill and in increase in veterans' health care funding.

Read a transcript of Pelosi's remarks here. And, watch video of Nancy Pelosi's remarks here.

Ad Wars Escalate

As events in Denver got under way, the Obama campaign unleashed a mocking ad linking Republican rival John McCain with President George W. Bush's economic policies. The musical "Don't Know Much" commercial underscored a desire by party leaders to make the convention as much about skewering McCain as about unifying for the fall campaign.

Ending with a photo of Bush patting McCain's back, the spot asks, "Do we really want four more years of the same old tune?"

McCain on Monday called Obama his "very honorable opponent" as he began a busy week of low-key events.

Seeking at least a slice of attention amid the Democratic celebration in Denver, McCain visited the Phoenix high school where his wife, Cindy, graduated. "This is a tough presidential campaign we're in," McCain said. "I have a very honorable opponent. There are stark differences between us."

McCain was also using an appearance Monday on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to stay in touch with voters. And, there was continued interest in his choice of a running mate.

National Republicans have set up a "war room" in Denver, less than a mile from the convention hall. It will be making top Republicans such as Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney available for press conferences and satellite interviews. A key target is local media in swing states.

The message is that Obama is a celebrity not qualified for the White House.

As a senior McCain campaign adviser puts it: "You can't expect people to cover you if you don't show up."

With thousands of reporters in Denver, Republicans anticipate plenty of demand for an alternative to the carefully choreographed narrative from the Democrats.

As events in Denver got under way, the Obama campaign unleashed a mocking ad linking Republican rival John McCain with President George W. Bush's economic policies. The musical "Don't Know Much" commercial underscored a desire by party leaders to make the convention as much about skewering McCain as about unifying for the fall campaign.

Ending with a photo of Bush patting McCain's back, the spot asks, "Do we really want four more years of the same old tune?"

Rival Calls Obama 'Honorable'

McCain on Monday called Obama his "very honorable opponent" as he began a busy week of low-key events.

Seeking at least a slice of attention amid the Democratic celebration in Denver, McCain visited the Phoenix high school where his wife, Cindy, graduated. "This is a tough presidential campaign we're in," McCain said. "I have a very honorable opponent. There are stark differences between us."

McCain was also using an appearance Monday on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to stay in touch with voters. And, there was continued interest in his choice of a running mate.

National Republicans have set up a "war room" in Denver, less than a mile from the convention hall. It will be making top Republicans such as Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney available for press conferences and satellite interviews. A key target is local media in swing states.

The message is that Obama is a celebrity not qualified for the White House.

As a senior McCain campaign adviser puts it: "You can't expect people to cover you if you don't show up."

With thousands of reporters in Denver, Republicans anticipate plenty of demand for an alternative to the carefully choreographed narrative from the Democrats.

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