It’s all about eyeballs. Because this year’s Democratic Convention is taking place in the Mountain Time Zone, the actual floor program is skewed toward late afternoon and early evening in order to catch prime time TV viewers on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Headline speakers are usually slotted between 6 PM and 9 PM MDT.

But the days start long before that. Every morning the state delegations — delegates and alternates, family and other guests, local media, and others — get the day going by gathering for breakfast. The program includes announcements of caucus meetings, housekeeping details about credentials, transportation, etc., and a few speakers. At Monday’s Virginia Delegation breakfast, Senate candidate Mark Warner told us why, even though he’s a gazillionaire, he needs a job. (His explanation below in the video clips.)

Midday is filled with policy meetings and lunches sponsored by various groups. Monday the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which supports state legislative races, sponsored a lunch at the Denver Aquarium. I have a hard time enjoying shrimp and scallop appetizers while staring into a fish tank.

In midafternoon, shuttle buses take us from our hotels over to the Pepsi Center. The journey Monday through clogged Denver streets and the security gantlet took a little more than an hour.

At 4 PM, the 100+ Virginia Delegation seats on the convention floor were starting to fill up; by 6 PM, every seat was taken and the aisles were jammed. I planted myself next to Minority Leader Ward Armstrong and his wife Pam (this week she’s the Delegate and he’s the guest), one row in front of Governor Kaine, his wife Ann Holton, and their family.

Our floor location adds to the congestion. In addition to being directly behind the much-in-demand Illinios Delegation, off to our left is the platform from which MSNBC commentators commentate. And all the still photographers are stationed behind us for their full frontal shots of the platform speakers.

What an incredible series of speakers they were! You’ve seen and read about Michelle Obama and the two Obama girls, but it’s hard to capture the excitement they generated in the hall. And Caroline Kennedy’s introduction of her Uncle Ted, followed by his passionate 12-minute address to the convention, was the emotional high point of the evening for many of us.

These powerful moments overshadowed appearances by many other speakers that were significant in their own right, like the brief documentary celebrating former President Carter, Mrs. Carter, and their humanitarian efforts over the past 25 years. And keep your eye on Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill.

So the day that started before 8 AM ended after midnight with a post-session party sponsored by Governor Kaine — and it’s only Day One of the Convention.

Monday’s video clips: Mark Warner pleads for a job at breakfast, the Pepsi Center entrance and lobby, John Kerry’s Hair on MSNBC, and a few seconds of Michellomania.