When Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech behind a thick screen of bulletproof glass it was a sign of the huge security operation which will surround the new President Election.
Fears are growing that Mr Obama, who will become America's first black president following his inauguration next year, will be the subject of an assassination attempt.
The secret service is reported to have already investigated more than 500 death threats against Mr Obama during the presidential election contest. Last month, two neo-Nazi skinheads were arrested for conspiring to assassinate Mr Obama.
He is expected to be protected by a secret service detail with hundreds of close-protection agents. Over the past few weeks, the US government has also begun secretly testing a new ultra-secure presidential limousine able to withstand most bomb blasts and terror attacks. Details of his movements will be a closely guarded secret for all but his most senior aides.
The scale of US presidential security is already on a different scale to that for British Prime Ministers with huge motorcades accompanying US presidents when they leave the White House.
Mr Obama received full secret service protection in May 2007, much earlier than most presidential candidates. His secret service codename is "renegade".
His wife, Michelle, is said to be particularly concerned about the threats that he now faces. However, Mr Obama previously said: "It's not something that I'm spending time thinking about day to day. I think anybody who decides to run for president recognises that there are some risks involved."
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