PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Latest on the Democratic National Convention and 2016 campaign. (all times local):
6:10 a.m.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is dismissing heavy Democratic criticism as "mostly false stuff."
Trump tells Fox News Channel in an interview broadcast Thursday that "I guess I take it a little bit personally, but you can't let it get you down."
The billionaire real estate mogul was interviewed following a campaign appearance Wednesday evening in Scranton, Pennsylvania. At an earlier campaign appearance, he encouraged Russia to find and make public missing emails deleted by his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton. This led to a fiery debate over hacking and his urging of a foreign government to meddle in American politics.
In the Fox interview he seemed to back away somewhat on saying he thought Russia was behind the hack of the Democratic National Committee emails, saying "who knows who it is." He called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a better leader" than President Barack Obama because "Obama is not a good leader. He's doing a better job than Obama."
3:20 a.m.
Hillary Clinton has the stage.
Stepping out of the shadows of presidents past, the former first lady, senator and vanquished-candidate-turned-secretary-of-state appeared unannounced on the platform at her nominating convention, pointed a finger at President Barack Obama and gave him a hug.
Clinton had just been anointed the inheritor of Obama's legacy with his vigorous endorsement speech, the candidate who could realize the "promise of this great nation."
"She's been there for us, even if we haven't always noticed," Obama said Wednesday, imploring the country to elect the woman he defeated eight years ago.
Summoning his most famous line from that campaign, Obama said: "If you're serious about our democracy, you can't afford to stay home just because she might not align with you on every issue. You've got to get in the arena with her, because democracy isn't a spectator sport. America isn't about 'Yes he will.' It's about 'Yes we can.'"
Clinton delivers her acceptance speech to Democratic National Convention delegates Thursday night.