Hudson to Sing Anthem at DNC

It would be first performance since family murders

(NEWSER) - A still-grieving Jennifer Hudson’s first performance since her family tragedy may be at Barack Obama’s inauguration, the New York Post reports. Organizers have asked Hudson to sing the national anthem, which she also performed at the Democratic National Convention. Hudson, whose mother, sister, and nephew were murdered in October, “is from Chicago and a huge Obama supporter,” the source said. More»

Talk-show host calls Dem's acceptance speech 'transcendent'

(AP) - Oprah Winfrey is leaving Denver with the candidate she wanted, but reportedly without her eyelashes. The talk-show host said she was moved to tears by Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC. "I cried my eyelashes off," she said from Invesco Field. "I think it's the most powerful thing I have ever experienced," she added, calling Obama's words "transcendent." "He's not an African-American candidate, he's a candidate for Americans." More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama made the most of his historic night at Denver's packed Invesco Field with a broad-based attack on the "broken politics of Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush," Reuters reports. "We are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight," said Obama, who formally assumed the mantle of Democratic nominee. "On November 4th, we must stand up and say: 'Eight is enough.' More»

Dems fear lavish stadium production could hurt Obama

(NEWSER) - Top Democrats are fretting over the mile-high risks their party faces tonight in Denver when Barack Obama takes the stage at Invesco Field. Officials fear rock-star treatment, complete with Greek-inspired staging Republicans dubbed “Barackopolis,” could reinforce claims of an out-of-touch candidate. “It’s likely that the campaign would do it differently if it had to do it again,” one tells Politico. More»

Mom's "surprise" was "Daddy" instead of rockers

(NEWSER) - Malia and Sasha Obama had hoped that a surprise visit Monday night after their mom’s convention speech was from someone with a little more rock-star quality than their dad, CNN reports. “Is it the Jonas Brothers?” 10-year-old Malia asked when Michelle Obama leaned down on stage to tell the girls “I’ve got a surprise for you.” More»