Leonard doesn't speak per se, but introduces colleages Dave and Bruce. The congressmen remain on stage and Leonard Boswell is dusting off his auctioneering skills. Gets six grand for Pelosi's scarf.
Pelosi seems a little more... heartfelt? something with the Dodd intro. There's an old family connection.
Quickly ranking the first three speakers: Edwards, Biden, Richardson.
Dodd gets the crowd re-involved by asking for a standing O for the vets. He plays the rule of law card hard... and now he moves to electability. But he sticks to touting his own qualifications and doesn't name anyone else.
It's starting to get really cold up here; some of the reporters from sunnier climes are putting their winter coats on. Kind of ironic with Hillary's TURN UP THE HEAT signs everywhere.
I think I heard a few groans behind me in the Hillary claque -- they were getting their chants going and then it became clear from Pelosi's introduction that it's Harkin's turn. They recovered quickly.
The Vilsacks and Terry McAuliffe have joined the Hillary crowd.
Tom Vilsack, up in the nosebleed section with Hillary's troops
Christy is working the crowd, Tom is standing in the entryway taking it in.
Harkin's gotten himself a plum spot: right before two of the top three. Speech is more policy, more low-key, and less peel the paint than you usually see with Harkin and a partisan crowd. The words are partisan, but the tone is quieter.
Harkin leaves to Petty's "I Won't Back Down."
The beginning of Pelosi's intro is drowned out by the cheering section.
At least twice in the first 90 seconds she hit a gender reference with just a little extra emphasis. ("Raise his... or her (loud cheers) hand.") We're going to hear "ready for change, ready to lead."
But instead we get a well-rehearsed TURN UP THE HEAT. The cheers rise at "women's rights."
TURN UP THE HEAT must be her version of BRING IT ON. She made the "I know what it's like in the kitchen" just before this started... the kitchen things cuts a couple different ways: acknowledges the haters and it's a traditionally feminine realm... deft.
Chant war Clinton vs. Obama in full effect. Pelosi pushes ahead with the intro when she can, and as soon as she does the Hillary seats start clearing out. They aren't the only ones - the Richardson section is nearly empty.
Obama enters to Alan Parsons' "Sirius," best knows as the theme from the Bulls' 90's run and they play on that introing him Jordan style.
Obama seems to be re-wrapping the critique of politics itself and hurling it more directly at the rivals. He's escalating into Orator Obama mode -- which he excels at but can't translate into debates.
The handful remaining from Team Richardson are holding up 2013? again. Obama's launcing an "our moment is now" cadence.
Edwards' zingers are more direct, Obama's are oblique. I'm hearing a couple half-shouted rebuttals behind me. Obama leaves to Stevie Wonder, "Signed Sealed Delivered." The choreographed FIRED UP! READY TO GO! resumes.
I guess no one had a flight to catch as they're all getting called back up by Pelosi. Most of the crowd vacates, a sizable percentage hands back hoping for the handshakes.
Biden wins the second tier. Top tier? Edwards and Obama honed the messages, Hillary has the people who'd walk on hot coals for her.
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