DENVER, Unites States, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 2008 Democratic National Convention will kick off on Monday in Denver, Colorado where Illinois Senator Barack Obama and Delaware Senator Joe Biden will accept nominations for the party's presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate.
The following is a brief introduction of the Democratic Party in modern history.
Founded in 1828, the Democratic Party is the oldest political party in the United States. With 72 million voters claiming affiliation by 2004, it is also the biggest party and one of the two major parties in the country, with the other being the Republican Party.
Since the late 19th century, the Democratic Party has preferred liberal positions or social liberalism.
Traditionally, the party's supporters were composed of farmers, laborers, and religious and ethnic minorities. But currently, its base also includes well-educated and rich liberals.
In recent decades, the party has followed a centrist economic and more socially progressive agenda, and it believes in the government's role in anti-poverty and social relief efforts.
The Democrats oppose tax cuts and favor a more progressive tax structure to provide more public services. As flagship policies, the party calls for a more affordable and qualified health care and low-cost education. In foreign affairs, it usually opposes unilateralism and believes that the United States should bank on strong alliance and international support.
It is more supported in the northeast region, the Great Lakes region and the Pacific coast.
Having an ideologically diverse base, the party is home to members of social liberals, civil liberals, conservatives, centrists, professionals, economists, Academia, labor and the working class.
In terms of racial composition, the party comprises many ethnic minorities, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and native Americans.
In the 2004 presidential elections and the 2006 mid-term elections, a majority of Jewish voters cast their votes for the Democrats. Arab Americans and Muslim immigrants have been more inclined to the party since the Iraq War.
The party currently is dominant in both of the two houses of Congress. Its presumptive presidential candidate in 2008 is the Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Delaware Senator Joe Biden is selected as his running mate.
The most common mascot symbol for the party is donkey.