Editor’s Note: This section contains NEWz reporter Eduardo de Oliveira’s daily blogging and reporting about the Democratic National Convention. He reports directly from the convention’s host city, Denver, Colo., Aug. 25-28, 2008, thanks to sponsorships from New America Media for Eduardo as well as nine other ethnic-media journalists from all across the USA.

The DNC has been able to convene a lot of voices. From ethnic news, to delegates from Guam and Americans Abroad, in Denver voters are under the same ceiling.

But not everyone enjoy the same political representation. Guamanian voters are proud to be here, even though they are not allowed to vote on the general election. The Pacific Island is a U.S. territory.

Guam’s population of about 160,000 is in a deadlock to decide whether or not the island should become a U.S. state. Because of time zone difference, “Guam is where America’s day begins,” the natives say.

Delegate Rena Borha, a Guamanian, is concerned with development of a six-year plan military buildup in her island. But her son has been recruited. Borha is a retired from IBM and says she loves America. But she would not like to see her son fighting in Iraq.

After a pause, she says: “If there’s what takes to defend all American citizens, my son will fight for this country.”

Having a sizable constituency is not a problem for the delegation of Americans Abroad. Currently, 6 to 7 million citizens of this country live in foreign soil. Nor will they be banned to vote in November.

Liv Gibbons is a democratic Super delegate and an Ireland resident since 1985. She admits a growing concern of Americans abroad is the state of U.S. image. Gibbons is confident Obama can deal with the issue. Using a somewhat foreign perspective, Gibbons sends the Illinois Senator a piece of advice.

“His sound-bite message is not well refined yet.”

Obama, she says, should pay attention for people’s push-button priorities, like national security. “Although the republicans brought us two wars with no end in sight, people think they are our best defenders.”

* Eduardo A. de Oliveira is an EthnicNewz.org reporter. He is in Denver with 9 other ethnic journalists, all sponsored by California-based New America Media. Send your questions or comments to Oliveira: eduardo.ao@hotmail.com

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Photo credit: Eduardo A. de Oliveira