Dems Shine on First Night of DNC, New Hampshire Delegates Say

"Ask anyone attending the and the first thing they will talk about is the energy surrounding the party.

Delegates in New Hampshire said that they were struck by the contrast from the last week in Tampa, which featured little enthusiasm and speakers they considered to be talking heads.

"It was an effort in its greatest part was to run away from the Republican platform," said former state Sen. of Cornish.

Tuesday's convention opened with powerful, passionate speakers, delegates said.

"From Cory Booker's incredible presentation right through, it was six hours and 40 minutes of elegant, articulate and finely-woven oratory designed to reveal the Democratic platform and show how it ties to our fundamental values," Burling said. "I did not want to leave my seat."

Sen. of Concord said last night was powerful.

"The energy in the convention hall was electrifying," Larsen said. "We were talking last night, trying to figure out who was the better speaker, but each speaker progressively betters the one before."

Larsen said in the midst of rainstorms, crowded metro lines, busy streets and sidewalks, people have come from all over the country in support of President .

"There's a power building this great energy," Larsen said.

Peg Gilmour of Hollis is attending the convention for the first time. A state senate candidate, Gilmour calls her experience amazing.

"Enthusiam is high and the message is clear," Gilmour said. "It's coming from a position of values."

Delegates said a shining moment for the Democratic Party were the remarks by First Lady Michelle Obama. Her speech filled with love, with humility and delivered with great poise showed just how important women are to this election, delegates said. Watch her speech.

"She is remarkable," Larsen said. "You could see the love in their family, the love for her children and she was a shining example of a woman who is doing it all."

Larsen said that the First Lady is a leader that is teaching communities how to care for one another.

"Michelle Obama was terrific," Gilmour said. "She was out there with grace, with love, with dignity, and that represents us very well."

Burling raved about each of the speakers, but saved Michelle Obama until last to comment on her remarks. He was particularly struck by her statement, "Being president doesn't change who you are — it reveals who you are.

Burling compared her speech to a "grand concert performance with the ultimate solo musician" because of her timing and her tone.

"She was simply perfect," Burling said. "Everyone knew she had a job to do, she knew she had a job to do. Her poise, her intelligence, her extradordinary advocacy. She was the finest apostle one could find to report on the impact and growth of her husband in the office of the presidency and we needed to hear that. We needed to hear that. And she did so in a way that was simply breathtaking."

Gilmour said when she returns to New Hampshire and take the energy she's felt here with her.

"We know the seriousness of what we are facing as a nation and as a state," Gilmour said. "It's hard work, but we can do this."