The President-elect also named Karen Mills as Administrator of the Small Business Administration and former Mayor Ron Kirk as United States Trade Representative.

Hilda has always been an advocate for everyday people. When she received an award several years ago, she said, “Fighting for what is just is not always popular, but it is necessary.” And that is exactly what she has done throughout her career, blazing new trails every step of the way. Whether it’s creating green jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced or expanding access to affordable health care or raising the minimum wage in California, Hilda has been a champion of our middle class. And I know that Hilda will show the same kind of leadership as Secretary of Labor that she showed in California and on the Education and Labor Committee by protecting workers’ rights – from organizing to collective bargaining, from keeping our workplaces safe to making our unions strong. [...]

Few understand our infrastructure challenge better than the outstanding public servant I am asking to lead the Department of Transportation – Ray LaHood. As a Congressman from Illinois, Ray served six years on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, leading efforts to modernize our aviation system by renewing our aging airports and ensuring that air traffic controllers were using cutting edge technology. Throughout his career, Ray has fought to improve mass transit and invest in our highways. But he has not only helped rebuild our landscape, he has helped beautify it by creating opportunities for bikers and runners to enjoy our great outdoors. When I began this appointment process, I said I was committed to finding the best person for the job, regardless of party. Ray’s appointment reflects that bipartisan spirit – a spirit we need to reclaim in this country to make progress for the American people.

The owner of a firm that the California Republican Party hired to register tens of thousands of voters this year was arrested in Ontario over the weekend on suspicion of voter registration fraud.

State and local investigators allege that Mark Jacoby fraudulently registered himself to vote at a childhood California address where he no longer lives so he would appear to meet the legal requirement that all signature gatherers be eligible to vote in California. His firm, Young Political Majors, or YPM, collects petition signatures and registers voters in California and other states.

Jacoby's arrest by state investigators and the Ontario Police Department late Saturday came after dozens of voters said they were duped into registering as Republicans by people employed by YPM. The voters said YPM workers tricked them by saying they were signing a petition to toughen penalties against child molesters.

The firm was paid $7 to $12 for every Californian it registered as a member of the GOP.

John McCain's campaign has directed $175,000 to the firm of a Republican operative accused of massive voter registration fraud in several states.

According to campaign finance records, a joint committee of the McCain-Palin campaign, the RNC and the the California Republican Party, made a $175,000 payment to the group Lincoln Strategy in June for purposes of "registering voters." The managing partner of that firm is Nathan Sproul, a renowned GOP operative who has been investigated on multiple occasions for suppressing Democratic voter turnout, throwing away registration forms and even, once, spearheading efforts to get Ralph Nader on ballots so as to hinder the Democratic ticket.

More from the Sproul file:

Indeed, Sproul's history is filled with allegations of political misdeeds. During the 2004 election, Sproul & Associates (the former name of Lincoln Strategy) was accused of attempting to destroy forms collected by Democratic voters in Nevada. That same year in Oregon, Sproul & Associates allegedly instructed canvassers to only accept Republican registration forms in addition to destroying those turned in by Democrats.

In Minnesota, meanwhile, Sproul's firm was accused of actually firing workers who brought back Democratic registration forms, while other canvassers were allegedly paid "$13 an hour, with the $3 bonus for every Bush, undecided or Ralph Nader voter registration." Similar problems related to Sproul & Associates popped up in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The number of job cuts announced in September rose as the economy slowed, according to a report released Wednesday.

Positions on the cutting board rose 7.2% to 95,094 from 88,736 the previous month, and were 33% higher than the same month last year, when 71,739 cuts were announced, according to outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

September brought the announced layoff total for the third quarter to 287,142 - the largest number since 2005, according to the report.

We cannot afford four more years of the same.

Riordan said the Illinois senator was by far the best choice for the White House and the only one with the intellect to shepherd the country through troubled economic times. "He's extremely bright and energetic, and he's a guy who gets things done," said Riordan, who was a successful venture capitalist before he was elected mayor in 1993, serving two terms.

Riordan criticized GOP presidential nominee John McCain's past support for financial deregulation, saying it helped trigger the mortgage crisis and subsequent economic downturn. "There's nothing in his background that shows he's a person who can understand these complicated economic issues, or shows that he is entrepreneurial enough to bring about change."

All of the women who wrote those letters are saying the same thing: We can’t afford four more years of the same policies that have gotten us into these problems in the first place.

This convention is a time of joy and hope. At the same time, we are deeply saddened to be without one of our sisters in Congress—Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones from Ohio.

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was a forceful advocate for economic empowerment, affordable health care, and quality education. We will miss her terribly.

Everything is on the line for women in this election. Barack Obama will deliver the change that the women who wrote these letters need, and all of us need. This November, when women vote, women win – and America will win with Barack Obama as the next president of the United States!

Tina from Montana writes: “I’m on the verge of losing my home due to foreclosure, but there are not enough hours in the day to take yet another job. My dream is to work only one job and spend more time with my children.” Tina’s dream shouldn’t be out of reach.

The Democratic Congress passed the most far-reaching housing finance reform bill in a generation. Democrats are working hard to help struggling homeowners keep their homes, but John McCain doesn’t seem to think there’s a problem. Maybe that’s because none of his seven houses are in foreclosure.

Barack Obama understands the importance of homeownership and keeping our neighborhoods secure.

John McCain’s economic plan is just four more years of Bush. Struggling homeowners like Tina can’t afford more of the same.

We need Barack Obama as President so the American dream of home ownership can become a reality once again.

Shelley, a single mother from Tennessee, writes, “I’m having to cut down on food just to cover gas prices. I had to figure out a way to even buy my daughter school clothes this year.” That’s a choice that no mother should be forced to make.

It’s time to stop sending our money to foreign countries to buy oil when we have all the sun and wind we need right here at home. Barack Obama will lead the transition to home-grown renewable fuels that will lower gas prices and create good-paying, green jobs. Big oil and John McCain want more of the same. Working-class mothers like Shelley can’t afford more of the same.

No podemos seguir con lo mismo! Necesitamos un cambio!

I am so honored to be here today, representing the diversity of our Democratic Party and the coalition of 18 million people of all backgrounds and all walks of life that stood with Hillary and never gave up. This primary season, the Hispanic community participated in historic numbers. Hispanics will be a pivotal voice and vote in electing the next president. Together, we have made history this year—and it is only the beginning.

Now, I want to say a few words in Spanish: en esta primaria electoral nuestre communidad participomos con numerous historicos. Nosotros vamos a ser la voz decica en elegir el próximo presidente de los estados unidos, y estamos muy orgullosos que hicimos historia. Y apenas estamos empezando! Sí se pudo!

I am a fourth-generation American from New Mexico. My father, Juan Fernandez, was a miner, field worker, and union activist and state assemblyman. My mother, Alicia Chavez, was a feminist and small business owner. My parents instilled in me the importance of hard work, determination and putting one’s neighbor before oneself. Hillary’s values are the values of my family and of our community.

When César Chávez and I first organized farm workers and immigrants over 40 years ago, it was not easy. But we persevered, and we made progress. We believed that those who do backbreaking work for low wages, often in a dangerous workplace, deserve a champion, someone who will fight for them.

That is why I love and respect Hillary. She has stood with hardworking people and knows how important it is to keep fighting—and keep going. For many in America, working people are invisible. For Hillary Clinton, no American is invisible.

I stand with Hillary as she stands with Barack to take our country back. But now, Mrs. Chairman, on behalf of all woman and working families, I have the great honor to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton, my friend, our champion, for President of these United States of America.

To the 2,170 women delegates: this is our convention. To women across America: this is our party. And to all Americans: Barack Obama is our candidate to deliver the change we need.

I am proud to be joined by my distinguished women colleagues of the United States House of Representatives who are working for America’s working women. They will share the stories of women around our country who all agree that our country can’t afford more of the same.

I’m here tonight because one year ago, Senator Obama spent a day with me, doing my job. That’s right, doing homecare with me. He helped me take care of an 87 year-old man named Mr. John. Mr. John is a proud man, and I help him stay in his home.

You know what he did, the next President of the United States? Senator Obama did laundry. He mopped floors. He made lunch. He changed the sheets. He did dishes. And he talked with Mr. John about his family and his career as a cement mason.

Senator Obama spent the day in my shoes. He didn’t want to talk politics or pose for pictures. Senator Obama wanted to work. That’s the kind of president we need, someone who really understands working people.

My job is to help people, and I love my job. But being a homecare worker is hard. The wages are low, the hours can be long, and the work can be physically challenging. Our union, SEIU, is a great help. But workers need a president who stands up for us.

All his life, Senator Obama has understood the importance of work. First from his single mom, then struggling families in Chicago, now all Americans. I’ll never forget the day I spent working with Senator Obama, and I know he won’t either. He was my co-worker, he is my friend, and next November, he will be our president.

These Americans turned on the lights for this convention, and they will be there to turn them off. They are among the millions of Americans who patrol our streets, harvest our food and care for our loved ones. They are our nation’s backbone, the bedrock of our cherished ethic of perseverance. My friends, let’s let all of America’s workers know: they are in the house tonight!

Yet after eight years of failed economic policies–policies Senator McCain has promised to continue–so many of these folks are feeling invisible and insecure. Over the past eight years, family incomes have dropped $1,000. In just the last six months, 460,000 people have lost their jobs. More than a million family homes are in foreclosure. Record deficit— record and growing debt. Republican fiscal policy—the “gift” that keeps on giving!

If that’s what Republicans mean by con-serv-atism, then we’ll have no more of the con that they’re serving! That’s why we need Barack Obama. Because he’ll take on the naysayers and the special interests. He’ll fight for the forgotten middle class.

Just as our beloved Cesar Chavez dared farmworkers to believe, “si se puede!”…. “yes, we can.” Barack Obama will say to every American that if you work your heart out every day—if you leave it all at the construction site, in the laboratory, in the classroom, at the operating table—then we’ll help you open the door to college and to the doctor’s office. We’ll help you save for the down payment or a dignified retirement. We’ll help you build a better life for your family.

I am the proud son of immigrants, a former member of Local 187 of the laborers union in California, first in my family to receive a university diploma, privileged to have served 16 years in the people’s house representing the great city of Los Angeles. And there is a saying I’ve always believed in: dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres. Tell me with whom you walk and I will tell you who you are.

Well, my friends, I know with whom I walk. I walk with those who build and drive, cook and clean, feed and bathe, protect and serve. And, my fellow Americans, in January, 2009, we will finally have a leader who walks with us—the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!

When I took the gavel from the former chairman, I told him that “elections have consequences.” When we win in November, we’ll prove it. Instead of protecting polluters, we’ll protect our families. Instead of ignoring the experts, we’ll fight global warming. Instead of facing Republican roadblocks, we’ll have a Democratic majority large enough to ensure healthy communities.

Remember: In the Senate, 60 is the new 50!

Instead of a president with an Exxon policy, we’ll have a president with an energy policy. This November, we can’t afford more of the same. Let’s elect Barack Obama so that the world’s economic and environmental leader will clearly be our nation—the United States of America.

Thank you.

On the surface, it could be viewed that Barack Obama’s parents had little in common with my parents. His father came from Africa; my parents came from Asia. They spoke different languages. Their paths surely never crossed. Yet our parents had much in common because they were united by the values they taught their sons: that in America, it doesn’t matter where you came from, but where you are going. It doesn’t matter what your name is, but whether you are willing to work hard to make a name for yourself.

Barack Obama’s life reaffirms the American dream, a dream living in the hearts and lives of countless American families from the eastern shores, to the farmlands, to the Rocky Mountains, to my beloved California, and beyond. This is our nation’s great promise. But the promise feels harder to reach.

As the Controller of the State of California, my job is to build a brighter fiscal future for my state and her 38 million residents. Like every state, California is struggling with foreclosures, record gas prices and rising unemployment. We are working harder than ever, but still many of us are falling further and further behind.

But we know our future is still golden. We know of a path to the promised land and Barack Obama will lead us there. He understands, as John F. Kennedy said, that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Together we will rise, or together we will fall.

Here in Denver, and all across our country, we choose to rise. Together, we will rise and reject another four years of the same policies that brought us from a decade of economic prosperity to a decade of economic despair. Together, we will rise and overcome the challenges of poverty, access to health care, and energy independence.

Barack Obama will give us the change we need, so that the values of hard work and opportunity that our parents taught us will ring just as loud, clear and true for our children as they did for us. Let those values be our calling. And once again build a country that embraces the great promise of her people.

Thank you and God bless you all.