*This article has been corrected since published.

Every four years, delegates, lobbyists and members of the press gather from all 50 states and other U.S. territories in one city for a little less than a week. Why? Because the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, which are used to announce the presidential and vice presidential nominees, are held every four years.

This year, the Republican National Convention (RNC) was held in Tampa, Fla. and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held in Charlotte, N.C.

Many delegates arrived from Maryland to give their support for President Barack Obama, including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a former Lt. Governor of Maryland, and Maryland Delegate Susan Lee. Also attending were Oscar Ramirez, the vice chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, Governor Martin O’Malley, Lt. Governor Anthony Brow and Montgomery County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett.

Brown stated that he thinks the convention is a great place and the Maryland delegation is proud to be a part of it. He added that the delegation is here to support Obama.

Although Brown is planning to run for governor when O’Malley’s term is up, O’Malley plans to continue maintaining Maryland’s support for the president.

“Our country is getting stronger, not weaker,” O’Malley said. “Obama is taking this country forward, not back.”

Leggett agreed with O’Malley.

“If Obama doesn’t win,” he said, “that is an outcome we are not ready for. [America] is not ready to step back.”

Leggett has been involved in Maryland politics for a number of years. Before taking on the role of Montgomery County Executive, Leggett was the chair of the State Democratic Party, one position above where Ramirez is now. Ramirez described his purpose in coming to the convention.

“My job down here is to re-elect the president,” said Ramirez. He added that he is also here to educate Democrats on what their party stands for.

Ramirez said he wants to re-elect the president because Maryland has a lot of Democratic values. He also added that we have to make sure that Maryland has Democrats in Congress to fight for those values.

Ramirez is part of the Podesta group, a lobbyist group headed by Tony and Heather Podesta. The firm was started in 1987 before Tony Podesta got married, and he added that it has changed a lot due to the increasing emphasis on media today. Heather Podesta added that the priorities of lobbyists have changed as well.

“We are lobbying for many different things [now]” she said.

Lee, being from Montgomery County, is also lobbying for education, though she is not part of the Podesta group. She said this is a knowledge-based economy and people need to be educated.

“When you invest in education, you get a[n] educated work force,” she said.

The Maryland delegation was put in a hotel half an hour away from the actual convention, which was held in downtown Charlotte, even though Maryland is a big supporter of the Democratic Party.

“It’s a minor inconvience,” said Leggett. “We all go through them, but if we don’t [re]-elect the president then it could be a lifetime inconvience.”