D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton Set to Speak at DNC

D.C. Council chair Vincent Gray, left, and Ward 5 Council member Harry Thomas Jr., waiting for the opening of the second day of activity at the Democratic National Convention.

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is set to open the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Unlike Monday, the D.C. delegation has shown up bright and early to watch Norton speak. Most of D.C.'s section of the Pepsi Center is full at just after 3 p.m. Mountain time.

Many of the D.C. delegation's heavier hitters have since arrived in Denver, and are seated here in the convention. D.C. Council chair Vincent Gray and Council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) are sitting front and center, greeting the delegates and D.C. Democratic Party loyalists who were able to get a coveted seat inside.

This speech is undeniably the biggest moment for the D.C. delegation during the four days of the convention.

"It's another opportunity to underscore the importance of voting rights for the District, to see [Norton] up there and for this issue to reach this level, it's incredibly important," Chairman Gray said. "It's also an opportunity for her to let the nation know how close we are."

The D.C. Voting Rights Act, which would grant Norton full voting rights, passed the U.S. House last year, but stalled in the Senate when it fell three votes short of cloture.

One high profile D.C. delegate has yet to arrive. Mayor Adrian Fenty is not at the Pepsi Center, though we've heard he's expected to arrive in Denver early this evening.