I was pleasantly surprised by criticism of the war by various speakers

[G_j]

and it seemed from the enthusiastic response the audience definitely wanted to hear it.
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related: poll says delegates are further left than candidate(s)

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0726-01.htm

Published on Monday, July 26, 2004 by the Boston Globe

Poll: Delegates, Kerry Differ on Key Issues
by Michael Paulson

They are united in their dislike of President Bush, and overwhelmingly confident that their candidate will defeat him in November.

But delegates to this week's Democratic National Convention differ with the presumptive nominee, John F. Kerry, in some key ways.Unlike Kerry, who opposes same-sex marriage, 62 percent of the delegates say gay and lesbian marriages should be allowed by law. And only 26 percent of delegates share the view expressed by Kerry -- a supporter of abortion rights -- that life begins at conception.

The delegates are also deeply critical of the war in Iraq. Kerry initially supported the war, but now questions the Bush administration's handling of it.

Eighty percent of those polled said they opposed the decision to go to war against Iraq at the time it began, and 95 percent say they now oppose the war. A majority of 63 percent want US troops out within two years; only one in four say the United States should stay as long as it takes to achieve administration goals.

..more..