Hillary, Elvis, Joe and the Beatles

I know the title makes no sense, but it has all the points I want to cover about the Democratic Convention.

First, Hillary did her job on Tuesday. She played to all those who could be swayed. Anyone left among her voters who won't vote for Obama are probably voters he could never get and some she wouldn't have kept. The unhappy Hillary voters were an overblown story by 15,000 journalists searching for conflict to cover. The Democrats are very united this year and Hillary and Bill did their jobs in keeping them that way.

Speaking of Bill, I think I have figured out his resistance to Obama. Bill is Elvis in 1964. He's been around awhile and been the "Big Dog" in the Democratic Party for more than a decade. But now times have changed and the Democratic Party has changed. When the Beatles hit the charts in 1964, Elvis didn't get what the attraction was. He had been usurped and he didn't like it. Bill has been usurped as well and he thought he had a way to extend his influence -- Hillary as president. Instead, he faces a very different sound from a new voice. He will do his duty as a Democrat and and support the ticket as much as he is asked to do so. However, he will never get why his voice is no longer the most attractive to listeners.

Joe Biden enjoyed this convention more than just about anyone else. Every time he was seen, there was a smile and he was hugging everyone he could. After a long career, he has a chance to step into a role in the executive branch. The Vice-Presidency wasn't his goal, but the opportunity is too good to decline. I found Obama's choice of Biden interesting for one reason...
Obama chose someone widely recognized to be as smart as he is. Sure, the choice bucks up the national security resume of the ticket and is a fairly "safe" choice from the guy expected to win. However, he also chose someone who will challenge his views. It is real hard not to see Biden being heard from in an Obama Administration. Joe has a way of insisting on being heard even when you wish he'd shut up. He, like Palin, won't decide the election, but he is a reassuring choice for those with doubts about Obama.

As for the nominee, Barack Obama once again demonstrated that he is the best political speaker of my lifetime. He also recognizes what the general election against the Republicans will require. His speech last night laid out a theme for the campaign (change we need); what's wrong with the opposition (Eight is Enough); his specific proposals (none of them new to his supporters but they weren't the audience he was aiming for); and demonstrated he can throw the needed punches back at the Republican attack machine. The most impressive part for me wasn't any phrase or theme. The most impressive part was that in a stadium filled with 84,000 fired up supporters; he had them listening in silence when he wanted. It was a master at work. The weak McCain campaign response released to the media after the speech, was a sign that they were unprepared for his exceptional performance.

Nods also go to his staging crew. As with event after event I've seen through the campaign, the Obama people know how to put on show that plays well on TV. All the talk of the setting being "too big" and fears of how a speech sounds in a football stadium were nonsense. They built a set and positioned cameras to give the images that fit perfectly into a TV screen, particularly in HD. There was even a flag that seemed to flutter at just the right times behind Obama. He wasn't a lonely figure on a stand amongst a mass of people. He was able to reach right out through the camera to the 38 million plus viewers, which included many who were measuring him for the presidency for the first time.

Yes, the Palin surprise keeps his story from playing heavily nationally for another day, but his campaign will manage. After hearing for weeks of "what they have to do at the convention" and then seeing the campaign surpassing the best expectations of the most optimistic Democrats, I think these folks know what they are doing and the Alaska Governor under investigation won't be much of hindrance.