By John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington Bureau

Former Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty has his take on last night's Democratic National Convention proceedings.

Insiders like himself -- and the many thousands of delegates, politicos and reporters here at the Pepsi Center in Denver -- already know plenty about presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama and his family. But everyday people who are busy working, paying the mortgage or fretting about the price of gasoline have been too busy to pay close attention. Now, said Fogarty, such people are beginning to tune in, so the Obama campaign is talking to them through the televised events.

For that reason, it's hard to over-stress the importance of last night's brief exchange between Obama -- via a video link from Missouri -- and his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, who were on the convention stage, Fogarty said.

"That got across the point about how close a family they are," Fogarty said. "It was great seeing the little kids and their interaction with Barack. That gives a sense of warmth and family unity that you can't manufacture."

Amen to that, said one Rhode Island mother of two daughters, who is also the sitting Democratic lieutenant governor. "That was a very human picture of a family," said Elizabeth Roberts. "I could kind of see my kids doing the same thing -- although they're older now and they wouldn't be that cute."

Roberts was mentally comparing her daughters, 19-year-old Kathleen and 16-year-old Nora, with Obama's daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.

"I think every parent has those moments," even if they are not played out in front of a national prime-time television audience, said Roberts. "I think any mother and father who was watching could relate."