The third day of the convention officially began with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson pounding the gavel to order.

• Calling the Iraq war a "moral disgrace," the Rev. Jesse Jackson slammed the Bush administration's work on jobs, the economy, education and Social Security. "In this campaign of courage and faith and leadership and honor, John Kerry stands alone. He deserves to be our next president."
• Former Democratic presidential rival to John Kerry, Rep. Dennis Kucinich strongly lashed out at the United States' involvement in Iraq, decrying any connection between the September 11, 2001, attacks and Iraq.

The Rev. Al Sharpton fired up the convention crowd when he said he was answering President Bush's question to minorities on whether Democrats take their votes for granted. To thunderous applause, he announced, "Read my lips, our vote is not for sale." He went on to say that such advances as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act came about under Democrats and that "We'd ride this donkey as far as it would take us."

• Proclaiming he was speaking as "an old soldier and a new Democrat," former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili threw support behind John Kerry as a future commander-in-chief. "No one will be more vigilant against terrorism or more skilled at bringing allies back to our side." Joining Shalikashvili on stage were several military leaders supporting Kerry, including former Democratic presidential hopeful Gen. Wesley Clark.
• Michael Dukakis, Walter Mondale, and George McGovern were honored as past Democratic presidential nominees.

Introduced by her daughter Cate, Elizabeth Edwards chronicled her husband's humble beginnings and rise to public service and eventually the U.S. Senate. John Edwards, John Kerry's running mate, "is the single most optimistic person I have ever known," she said. "He knew there was a brighter day ahead."

On the evening with the theme of "A Stronger, More Secure America," John Edwards portrayed John Kerry as a man ready to take command of the country and rallied the audience behind the Kerry-Edwards ticket in his keynote speech. He called on the American people to "reject the tired, old, hateful, negative, politics of the past." Instead, he said to the cheering crowd, the public "can embrace the politics of hope, the politics of what's possible because this is America, where everything is possible."

• Singing group Black Eyed Peas wrapped up the third day of the convention with an energized performance.
• John Kerry formally wins the nomination as Democratic presidential candidate after the roll call of the 4,322 delegates began, with swing state Ohio casting the delegate votes to put him over the top.