Barbara Mikulski

DENVER – At-Large delegate Mary Jo Neville says she sees a stark contrast between the 2008 Democratic National Convention and prior conventions, but it doesn’t seem to have much to do with the so-called historic nature of this cycle.

“It’s very different from conventions of the past,” Neville told PolitickerMD.com.

Neville – who is attending her seventh convention – pointed to the arduous nature of getting around.

DENVER – Following her “Checklist for Change” speech from the podium at the Democratic National Convention, Maryland delegates praised U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) for her dedication and service.

The senior senator, often referred to as the dean of female senators, introduced the seven other Democratic women in the Senate.

Former Attorney General Joe Curran called Mikulski’s speech “dynamite.”

“She tells it like it is,” he said.

“She’s always right on the money,” said Marietta English, president of the Baltimore Teachers Union.

Adam Scholl, a page to the Maryland delegation said, “I think it was a great speech,” but added “she should elaborate.”

“She’s the official energizer bunny,” Dianna Guthrie, a member of the Harford County Council, said after the cheers had died down. Her husband, Dion Guthrie, called Mikulski “a little package of dynamite.”

Below is a transcript of remarks made by U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday evening, as prepared for delivery.

If Capitol Hill was like high school (isn't it, though?), Steny Hoyer would be class president while Barbara Mikulski would be with the bully who takes your lunch money.

If you're watching the Democratic National Convention either on C-SPAN or online, you won't see any of Maryland's politicians speaking tonight.

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore) has been added to the list of Maryland delegates to speak at the Democratic National Convention next week.

Cumming’s is a co-chair of the Maryland for Obama campaign.

“Congressman Cummings will lay the irrefutable truth on the table for an entire nation. He is joining a host of Maryland Democrats who are leading our party as Senator Barack Obama makes history in Denver and more importantly, as we put America on the right path again,” wrote Maryland Democratic Party communications director David Paulson in a statement.

“We are very proud and excited so many Maryland Democrats will address the convention and the nation at this critical time in our nation’s history,” he added

Cummings will speak Tuesday along with U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville), U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) and U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore). He is scheduled to speak from 8-8:30pm EST.

U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) will make the opening remarks on Tuesday's session of the Democratic National Convention. Mikulski will join a handful of other women Senators to highlight their “Checklist for Change."

“American families want change, and the women of the United States Senate are committed to helping deliver it for them,” said Mikulski in a statement. “From pay equity to protecting the family checkbook, making health care affordable and taking care of our military families, there is a clear difference between the two parties and the two candidates. Voters have a clear choice this year. If they want to move the country forward, the women of the United States Senate stand ready to deliver our Checklist for Change.”

When Sen. Ted Kennedy received his grim diagnosis of a brain tumor last May, Sen. Barbara Mikulski promised to be "ringside" for anything he needed. Turned out he needed an extra hand in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which he chairs and Democratic Senators Chris Dodd, Tom Harkin and Mikulski are next in seniority.

Mikulski was influential in this barrier-breaking VP pickWhile it is a faint memory now, there was speculation up until the early summer of 1984 that then-Rep. Barbara Mikulski would make a good running mate for the Democratic presidential nominee.

She was one of three women House members considered for the job, the others being Pat Schroeder of Colorado and the female frontrunner, Geraldine Ferraro of New York. Outside Congress, two minor office-holders who would go on to national prominence -- San Francisco Mayor Diane Feinstein and Texas State Treasurer Ann Richards -- were also considered.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski, upper left at the June 7 concession speech, was with Hillary Clinton to the very end.: FlickrDespite Hillary Clinton's name being placed into nomination at next week's Democratic National Committee Convention, U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) will vote for Barack Obama on the first nominating ballot.

Obama and Clinton, who fought a drawn-out battle for their party's nomination, announced last Thursday, Aug. 14, that her name would also be part of the roll call in Denver.

In the statement, Obama said he was “convinced that honoring Senator Clinton’s historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong united fashion.”

The decision immediately raised the question of how many votes Clinton would receive during the first roll call, and which prominent supporters would make the symbolic gesture.