August 28, 2008 Joe Biden salutes American heroes in unscheduled appearance Play video

(NECN: Denver, CO) - Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden made an unscheduled appearance at Invesco Field ahead of Barack Obama's acceptance speech.

Speaking to the audience of nearly 80,000 he said that when Democrats talk about an open convention "this is an open convention". Earlier Obama's camp said it is fitting for Obama to accept the party's nomination, in front of people who normally don't attend conventions, the way he got people involved in his campaign who normally do not.

Biden said "We're here for the millions of Americans who have been knocked down, to send a message together to send a message that we're going to get back up as a nation."

Biden promised to work for the everyday heroes who keep America running. He then introduced a series of speakers from across the country in a segment called the "American voices program".