Congressman Larsen on hand for Barack Obama's historic speech

Congressman Rick Larsen said he watched history in the making during this past week during the Democratic Convention in Denver.

The 2nd Congressional District Democrat said the convention and presidential nominee Barack Obama's speech were groundbreaking.

Larsen, a superdelegate who voted for Obama, said the energy building up to Obama's acceptance speech Thursday was electrifying, but Obama delivered with substance and inspiration.

"It was less of show and more of Sen. Obama explaining, in great detail, what his message of change means," Larsen said.

Larsen added that he was proud to witness the Democratic Party nominate the first African American — the first nominated by any major party — for the presidency.

He was also excited to see Biden and Obama side-by-side.

"It was great to see Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden as a team, ready to govern," Larsen said.

"Sen. Biden and Sen. Obama will compliment each other. Obama will explain what change will mean in healthcare, for the economy and a safer world. Sen. Biden will stand out through his experience. What I really think is that those people have the same story, one more the traditional story, the 20th century version, one more updated for the 21st century."

Larsen also acknowledged Sen. Hillary Clinton's appearance Tuesday.

"She was right on," he said. "She deserved the recognition she got."

"She acknowledged her supporters and then she turned her sights on Sen. McCain, explaining that voting for McCain is nothing like voting for Hillary Clinton," Larsen said.

"People left the convention enthusiastic and energized, ready to get back home, and start working for the Obama/Biden ticket," Larsen added, especially the 97 members of the Washington delegation who had come to be part of the Democratic process.

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