Change and unity were the themes highlighted this afternoon by a variety of speakers at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Speakers highlighted the need for unity within the Democratic Party and changes the Democratic Party wants to bring in America, particularly in health care, the environment and education. The theme for the first night of the convention is “one nation.” Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said, “change is the only thing that can realign our nation’s compass.” Judith McHale, co-chairwoman of the Platform Committee, noted that the party’s platform includes many ideas from former presidential candidate Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), whose supporters have been slow to embrace Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) sought to emphasize the importance of the Latino vote in November as necessary to winning the White House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) briefly took the gavel as the chairwoman of the convention to wild applause in the Pepsi Center. Pelosi is set to speak later this evening.