Passing the Torch

26 August 2008 |permalink | email article

The start of the Democratic National Convention was significant for three reasons: 1) Ted Kennedy’s unexpected, but powerful speech last night about the “dream lives on,” marking the passage of one era; 2) speeches by Hillary Clinton tonight and Bill Clinton tomorrow night marking the end of another; and 3) the beginning of a third era: Michelle Obama’s effective and down to earth values speech paving the way for Barack Obama’s arrival on Thursday night.

But among some Democratic strategists and scores of boring cable news talking heads, notably James Carville, there was criticism that convention planners blew opening night by not launching immediate attacks on John McCain.

Carville and company overreact. Speeches on the next three days will more than make the case against McSame as a carbon copy of W.

The keeper of Bill Clinton’s legacy suggests Democrats made the same mistake at the 2004 convention in not going after Bush on Day One, predicting Republicans in St. Paul would not make the same mistake in savaging Obama from the opening bell.

What Carville ignores is that the Republicans are in the worse shape since Watergate and the sorry state of the economy and poll data favor a return to the White House of a Democratic nominee.

As for polls, Obama should get a good bump by week’s end. What’s significant is McCain’s campaign remains entirely negative and his poll numbers remain static.

Notable Quotes

*** “See you at the Democrats, where they will let anybody nominate everybody.” – Will Rogers to the New York Times from the 1932 Republican convention in Chicago.

*** “Let’s talk sense to the American people. Let’s tell them the truth. That there are no gains without pains.” – Adlai Stevenson, who was nominated for president at the 1952 Democratic convention in Chicago.

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