Obama to bring message of hope 20 years after famous convention speech

Ex-president headlining in Chicago on Tuesday brings memories of 2004 appeal for unity that inspired Democrats

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From skinny kid with a funny name" to elder statesman: Barack Obama, the former US president, will be the headline speaker at the Democratic national convention in Chicago on Tuesday - 20 years after he first burst on to the national political scene.

Obama, a state legislator from Illinois, was days from his 43rd birthday and months from being elected to the Senate when he was given a slot at the party's 2004 convention in Boston. Rising star to woo voters with upbeat keynote speech," was the Guardian headline on 27 July 2004.