"From the first moment a woman dared to speak that hope - dared to believe that the American Dream was meant for her too - ordinary women have taken on extraordinary odds to give their daughters the chance for something else; for a life more equal, more free, and filled with more opportunity than they ever had. In so many ways we have succeeded, but in so many areas we have much work left to do.”

~ Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, Speech in Washington, DC, 11/10/05

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton took center stage at the Democratic National Convention tonight in one of the most anticipated moments of the week.

Wrap: So, another chapter in an extraordinary political biography was written tonight, but the book is far from over. In fact, Mrs. Clinton’s role at the convention is not even over.

Tomorrow comes the roll call, the moment that she said would provide “catharsis” for her supporters. The Clinton and Obama camps are still negotiating exactly how that will unfold, and how this convention will record her historic candidacy. But there was no doubt tonight about the genuine outpouring for her inside the hall.

One thing that was striking was how universal those white “Hillary” signs seemed to be. There was a veritable ocean of signs, as if every person in the hall were waving one. That couldn’t be, of course, but it was symbolic of how eager the Obama campaign — and many Obama supporters in the hall — are to please the Clinton crowd.

Her speech tonight started with a riveting video that underscored her position at the forefront of a revived women’s movement; she seems to have quieted, for now, those feminists who regarded her with ambivalence. The question will be whether she quieted those critics who think she has been less than full-throated in her support for Barack Obama.

Even if tonight’s speech convinced many of Mrs. Clinton’s fans to back Mr. Obama, her husband has yet to demonstrate publicly his full support. Will we see that tomorrow?

11:22 p.m. | Because She Said So: From Michael Powell, with the New York delegation: As Mrs. Clinton wraps up, people begin to scream, “We love you! We love you!”

The question is put to Kelly Friendly, who supported Mrs. Clinton, ardently, and is a private equities worker form Wellesley, Mass.: Will you vote for Barack Obama?

“Absolutely–she just told us to, didn’t she?”

11:11 p.m. | Ain’t No Ceiling High Enough: Senator Clinton spoke for 23 minutes. It was a speech that seemed to change the feel of the convention.

Mrs. Clinton concluded: “That is our duty, to build that bright future, to teach our children that in America there is no chasm too deep, no barrier too great, ­ no ceiling too high, ­ for all who work hard, who keep going, have faith in God, in our country, and in each other. That’s our mission, Democrats. Let’s elect Barack Obama.”

That theme — that there is no ceiling too high — is also, of course, the theme that emerged as her trademark from her candidacy. (Transcript)

11:07 p.m. | Just Say No: She says that John McCain “is my colleague and my friend. He has served our country with honor and courage. But we don’t need four more years of the last eight years.” She gives a litany of how bad he will be, for the economy, health care and energy.

11:01 p.m. | Props to the Former President: She gives Bill Clinton a big shout-out — 15 minutes into her speech. Regardless, the crowd loved it. Here’s what she said: “When Barack Obama is in the White House, he’ll revitalize our economy, defend the working people of America, and meet the global challenges of our time. Democrats know how to do this. As I recall, President Clinton and the Democrats did it before. And President Obama and the Democrats will do it again.”

10:55 p.m. | Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits: At the bottom of those white signs in the hall with Hillary’s name is a Web site — not Mr. Obama’s but Mrs. Clinton’s. Could come in handy as she continues to try to pay off her debt (still more than $11 million).

She’s making some references to the long primary season and her supporters: “You taught me so much, you made me laugh, and, yes, you made me cry.” And then this: “To my supporters, to my champions — to my sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits — from the bottom of my heart: Thank you. Thank you, because you never gave in. You never gave up. And together we made history.”

10:45 p.m. | Proud Supporter: “I’m here tonight as a proud mother, as a proud Democrat, as a proud Senator from New York, a proud American and a proud supporter of Barack Obama.” Whether you voted for her or Mr. Obama, she says, “the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose.”

CNN is reporting that while Mrs. Clinton will be on hand for Mr. Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night, Mr. Clinton will not.

Here’s what Mrs. Clinton has to say about the opposition: “No way. No how. No McCain.”

Mrs. Clinton is paying homage to Stephanie Tubbs Jones, her ardent supporter: Mr. Clinton is sitting next to her son, Mervyn Jr.

10:42 p.m. | Here She Is: Hillary Rodham Clinton is on stage. And the crowd goes wild. But as the ovation continues, there are one or two boos from the crowd as well.

10:40 | Chelsea: Chelsea Clinton is on stage now. “I’m proud to introduce my hero an my mother, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.” The hall is a sea of white signs, a blow-up of Hillary’s signature. The music: “American Girl,” which played throughout her rallies in the primaries.

10:39 p.m. | Hillary - The Movie: Without fanfare, Chelsea Clinton’s voice comes on, narrating the video about her mother. Once the audience has figured this out, they go nuts. The lights are down, Mrs. Clinton is on the screen.

This is a fast-paced, energetic video, much different in tone from the reverential movies that have preceeded the other speakers. It makes fun of her laugh. One repeated message: you can be anything you want. And Chelsea seems the partner in the video, more than Bill. Is this the annointing of hte next genration? There are white “Hillary” signs in the crowd here, waiting to be waved to the cameras.

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