US voters' views 2008: Democrats

In the run-up to the most hotly contested US presidential election in years we are asking panels of BBC News website readers to share their opinions and views.

Here, Democratic voters from across the US look back at the party's convention.

Jessica Ross Pennsylvania "I am excited about this historic election" Catherine Smith Decatur, Georgia "Obama said nothing to unify the party" Carlos Martinez Austin, Texas "Obama projected a statesman-like gravitas" Mary O'Neil Denver, Colorado "Barack Obama's speech was epic"

Tom Taber California "The convention won't affect the way I vote" Sumit Galhotra New York "The convention was exactly what we needed " Tammika Waddy Maryland "Obama represents the change we need" M Kundak-Cowall Chelsea, Michigan "The Democrats are trying so hard to unite"

Read what the panellists said before the convention

Republican voters' views

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider US public opinion.