The abiding story of the first three days of the Convention has been unity. Before the weekend, as I reported yesterday, Hillary Clinton’s most ardent supporters were pushing for a roll call vote to mug Obama of his nomination; Clinton’s speech settled some nerves but a number of commentators felt that it didn’t go far enough with Clinton failing to countenance her earlier claims that Obama was not ready to be Commander in Chief. Even yesterday, a few – primarily white women over 50 – were parading up Denver’s main drag in Hillary t-shirts parading signs saying, ‘Smart Choice’ and ‘Party Unity My Arse.’
But last night two acts sealed the deal for Obama. First, during the roll call vote Hillary Clinton, speaking on behalf of the New York delegation, moved for Obama to be nominated by ‘acclamation.’ The motion was carried. Second, Bill Clinton’s speech said that, ‘Barack Obama is ready to lead America … [and] to be President of the United States].’ He, like his wife the night before, brought the house down but with Stars and Stripes as a visual aid rather than Hillary signs.
Although some of Clinton’s supporters may still abstain or, defying the logic of their own ideals and values, vote for John McCain, the beat of their drum is funereal. Ricki Lieberman, subject of yesterday’s post, sent one final email to Clinton supporters last night which was titled, ‘Suspended, now ended.’
So now the stage is set for Barack Obama’s historic speech with a backdrop of roman columns aping the Lincoln memorial, scene of Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech 45 years ago today, rather than the disunity and disaffection which plighted the conventions of 1980, 1972 and 1968 when the Democrats went on to lose.
After the stellar performances of Michelle Obama, Hillary and Bill, and Joe Biden, Barack Obama, in order not to be overshadowed, is going to have to pull out the speech of his life. No one here doubts that he will but it is this expectation which has now replaced disunity as the greatest risk to his candidacy and potential presidency.