Snapshot of the conventions

With less than two months until Election Day, Americans are gearing up to vote for a campaign that will either lead to the first African-American president in U.S. history, or the first woman vice president in U.S. history. The past two weeks have been full of political action with both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions being held, the announcing of potential Vice Presidents and attacks being slung from one campaign to another. In case you missed any of the action, here's a quick overview of what happened in Denver and Minneapolis.

Democratic National Convention

Where it was: Denver, Colorado

Who spoke: Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Barack Obama

When it happened: August 25-28, 2008

The theme: Change You Can Believe In

Memorable quotes:

I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history, knowing that my piece of the American dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me. All of them, driven by the same conviction that drove my dad to get up an hour early each day to painstakingly dress himself for work. The same conviction that drives the men and women I've met all across this country: people who work the day shift, kiss their kids goodnight and head out for the night shift without disappointment, without regret. That goodnight kiss a reminder of everything they're working for.

---Michelle Obama, on the opening night of the convention

I will always remember the single mom who had adopted two kids with autism, didn't have health insurance and discovered she had cancer. But she greeted me with her baldhead painted with my name on it and asked me to fight for health care.

---Hillary Clinton, about her supporters

Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies but not one penny of tax relief to more than one hundred million Americans? How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement???It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it.

--Barack Obama, in his speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president

Republican National Convention

Where it was: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Who spoke: Senator Fred Thompson, Cindy McCain, Sarah Palin, John McCain

When it happened: September 1-4, 2008

The theme: Country First: Peace

Memorable quotes:

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening.

--Sarah Palin, in her speech accepting the vice presidential nomination for the Republican party

I was taught Americans can look at the world and ask either: what do other countries think of us ... or we can look at ourselves and ask: what would our forefathers make of us and what will our children say of us? That's a big challenge. In living up to it, we know the security and prosperity of our nation is about a lot more than just politics.

--Cindy McCain on the last night of the convention

I don't mind a good fight. For reasons known only to God, I've had quite a few tough ones in my life. But I learned an important lesson along the way. In the end, it matters less that you can fight. What you fight for is the real test. I fight for Americans. I fight for you. I fight for Bill and Sue Nebe from Farmington Hills, Michigan, who lost their real estate investments in the bad housing market. Bill got a temporary job after he was out of work for seven months. Sue works three jobs to help pay the bills. I fight for Jake and Toni Wimmer of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Jake works on a loading dock; coaches Little League, and raises money for the mentally and physically disabled. Toni is a schoolteacher, working toward her Master's Degree. They have two sons, the youngest, Luke, has been diagnosed with autism. Their lives should matter to the people they elect to office. They matter to me.

--John McCain, in his speech accepting the Republican nomination for president