DENVER: The up-and-coming faces of the Democratic Party, particularly those from battleground states, had prime real estate at the convention yesterday.

There was the Governor of Massachusetts, Patrick Duval, an African-American with a gift of the gab; Kathleen Sebelius, the Governor of Kansas; Bob Casey, the Governor of Pennsylvania; and the Ohio Governor, Ted Strickland.

But the scene stealer was a little-known raucus governor from Montana, Brian Schweitzer, who took off his ten-gallon hat to stir the audience in the Pepsi Centre to a session of theatric boos and yeahs during his speech on energy. He may not quite be presidential material but he sure knew how to wrangle an audience.

Mark Warner, the telegenic billionaire who made his fortune when he got in early on mobile phones and established Nextel, and who then became Virginia's governor, was a resounding yawn.

As keynote speaker, he did a workman-like job with flashes of brilliance as he outlined his personal history - another version of the American rags-to-riches story.

But the choice of Mr Warner for the prime-time spot was not just about promoting a rising star. Barack Obama is hoping for a reverse coat-tails in Virginia, and wants to ride Mr Warner's popularity in the state to victory.

Having won Virginia decisively in the primaries, Senator Obama now believes the state can be convinced to break with 44 years of history and vote Democrat.