Pelosi kicks off Democratic National Convention with first prime time speech

DENVER - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered the first prime time speech of the Democratic National Convention Monday night and used the 15 minute talk to remind voters why voting in Republican John McCain as president this November would be a disaster for the country.

In what many TV pundits called just a "serviceable" speech, the San Francisco Democrat delivered a shopping list of reasons - from the Iraq War to the crisis in healthcare -- why presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is right for the job and McCain is not.

"Republicans say John McCain has experience," Pelosi said. "We say John McCain has experience in being wrong."

She called Barack Obama's candidacy an important moment in American history.

"Today, Barack Obama is a 21st Century patriot who sees beyond the years," Pelosi said, slightly modifying a line from "America the Beautiful."

The speaker echoed many other Democratic leaders this week in saying that she predicted the party will leave the convention with its house in order and ready for the fall campaign, absent any lingering issues with Sen. Hillary Clinton supporters.

"Democrats will leave this 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 of the United States," Pelosi said.