Steny Hoyer

Barack Obama, right with adviser David Axelrod, tours Invesco Field before his speech there Wednesday night: Getty Images PhotoDENVER - U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) says that if Barack Obama is to successfully deliver his acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination, he needs to demonstrate that he can take America forward.

“I think Barack Obama has to show the American public where he wants to take this country,” the 5th District Democrat told PolitickerMD.com. “The policies he wants to promote in order to make the lives of average working people in this country better.”

He continued “At the same time I think it’s going to be very inspirational and appeal to the best of America and say that -- as he says all the time -- ‘I want to have this country be not what it is but what we think it ought to be.'”

DENVER - State Del. Justin Ross (D-Prince George’s County) couldn’t let himself get away with attending the Democratic National Convention and not throw a party for the man he calls the “favorite son of Maryland.”

Ross celebrated U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer’s (D-Mechanicsville) first national convention as House Majority Leader by hosting a reception for him at Wazee Supper Club in downtown Denver.

“This is the first convention since he’s become the Majority leader. I worked for Congressman Hoyer when I was in High School,” Ross told PolitickerMD.com. “I thought it was only appropriate that we recognize the Majority Leader here to the convention.”

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D): Getty Images PhotoDENVER – When it comes to the outlook for his party in House races this fall, U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) is betting outright that Democrats expand their majority big time.

“…I think we are going to pick up a substantial number of seats,” Hoyer said in a short interview outside the Marriott hotel.

“All over the country we have candidates who have outraised either incumbents or Republican challengers (and) who are doing very well in the polls,” the 14-term congressman added. “Very very few of our candidates are under severe challenge. So I think we’re going to pick up a good number of seats, expand our majority in the United States House of Representatives and expand our majority in the United States Senate.”

Hoyer singled out Betsy Markey, the former aide to U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Denver) who is challenging U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Fort Collins), as a particularly strong Democratic challenger.

DENVER - U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) sees the success of eight time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, a Baltimore native, as a good example of how Democrats can win back the White House in 2008.

“All of us in Maryland are proud of Michael Phelps,” said Hoyer during a reception hosted by Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon at the Renaissance Denver Hotel.

“What we didn’t see and what the world didn’t see is the six hours every day [he spent training],” he added. “We need to be in that pool.”

Hoyer said delegates should start reaching out to others in an effort to “change America one vote at a time.”

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer: Getty Images PhotoDENVER - U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) speaks during day two of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 26, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be officially be nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president on the last day of the four-day convention. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Below is a transcript of remarks made by U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday evening, as prepared for delivery.

If Capitol Hill was like high school (isn't it, though?), Steny Hoyer would be class president while Barbara Mikulski would be with the bully who takes your lunch money.

If you're watching the Democratic National Convention either on C-SPAN or online, you won't see any of Maryland's politicians speaking tonight.

The Boston Globe delights in noting that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer will meet with Iowa's delegation to the Democratic National Convention Committee in Denver this week, calling him one of the "2012 unhopefuls" (because the Democrats hope to win this year).

Doubtful if not downright absurd.

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore) has been added to the list of Maryland delegates to speak at the Democratic National Convention next week.

Cumming’s is a co-chair of the Maryland for Obama campaign.

“Congressman Cummings will lay the irrefutable truth on the table for an entire nation. He is joining a host of Maryland Democrats who are leading our party as Senator Barack Obama makes history in Denver and more importantly, as we put America on the right path again,” wrote Maryland Democratic Party communications director David Paulson in a statement.

“We are very proud and excited so many Maryland Democrats will address the convention and the nation at this critical time in our nation’s history,” he added

Cummings will speak Tuesday along with U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville), U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) and U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore). He is scheduled to speak from 8-8:30pm EST.