Convention notebook

• Matt Cartwright, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 17th District, was impressed with Tuesday night's convention speakers San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and first lady Michelle Obama.

"Our convention is crystallizing the choice the American people face this election," Cartwright said. "It's a choice between President Obama's vision of moving America forward to an economy built to last with a strong middle class at its core, or Mitt Romney's vision of going back to the same ‘top-down' economic policies that crashed our economy and punished the middle class."

• Cartwright said he has had the opportunity to meet U.S. reps. Elijah Cummings, Marcy Kaptur, Donna Edwards and others. He said he is making it a point to introduce himself to as many hopefully future colleagues as possible so he can be as effective as possible in Congress.

Cartwright is opposed by Republican Laureen Cummings in November.

• First lady Michelle Obama's speech was "magnificent," Cartwright said. "I felt that it forcefully brought across who President Obama is, what he has accomplished and what he will accomplish in his next four years."

• Cartwright said Obama has often made unpopular decisions, but they were made to strengthen the country over the long term.

• Cartwright said former President Bill Clinton was expected to talk about what the president has done to help the nation recover from the worst economic crisis ever handed a new president.

• President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will accept the Democratic nominations for president and vice president tonight.

Bill O'Boyle