A big night for the Dems and Clinton, but Biden shows his appeal
Dante Chinni
Posted: 08.28.2008 / 6:56 AM PDT
Denver – If you drew up a perfect script for an evening at a political convention, it would look a lot like Wednesday night for the Democrats.
The deal that the Clinton and Obama campaigns made on the actual nomination – though most people probably didn’t see it live because of its timing – came off without a hitch and looked good on TV. The tribute to the military was moving. And the arrival of Sen. Barack Obama capped the evening and set the table nicely for Thursday.
Most people Thursday will be talking about former President Clinton, whose standing ovation went on and on before he spoke a word. When he did talk, his speech showed his oratorical force, revving up the crowd further while making a coherent argument for why Senator Obama should be president. None of the hard feelings Mr. Clinton is reported to have about Obama’s getting the nomination were apparent.
By the end of the evening, political analyst David Gergen told CNN that the night had changed the momentum of the campaign. Maybe it did, though Thursday’s final festivities in gigantic Invesco Field before at least 70,000 people will probably have something to say about that.
But beyond the next few days, it may be Sen. Joseph Biden’s speech – a sign of what his presence brings to the ticket – that may have laid the most important groundwork for the Obama campaign.
Much has been made of Senator Biden’s appeal with working-class white voters. The reasons for that appeal were on display in Wednesday’s speech – the folksy stories, the Catholic upbringing, the common touch.
In many of our communities around the country, people have suggested they don’t know what exactly Obama aims to do. Biden helps in that regard. If Obama’s rhetoric has the tendency to get lofty, Biden’s grounds the ticket.
Down on the convention floor, Janet Ryder, an Obama delegate from Philadelphia and a Patchwork Nation blogger from that city (which we classify as an “Industrial Metropolis”), said Biden and his appeal could be particularly important in her hometown.
A recent poll of some northern Philadelphia communities where older white ethnic voters live shows a dead heat between Obama and Sen. John McCain – though Sen. John Kerry won there by nine percentage points in 2004.
“That’s something that definitely concerns us,” says Ms. Ryder, a community-services liaison for the local AFL-CIO. “The union has been up there knocking on doors, and we are hearing the same thing. They tell us they don’t know if they can vote for Obama because he doesn’t have enough experience or that [they believe] he is a Muslim.”
Biden, she says, will be a huge help in their efforts. “People know him and like him. He’s a Delaware’s senator, but he’s in our media market. He speaks their language.”
Indeed, Biden did that last night, talking about being “not dressed as well as others” as a child and his mother demanding he bloody the nose of bigger kids who knocked him down so he “could walk down the street the next day.” He spoke of the “dignity of work” and how he was taught to “live our faith and treasure our family.”
Those are the kinds of words one could see resonating not just in northern Philly, but also in places like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, suburban Detroit, and, yes, Denver. Those are some of the places that will be top of mind – and on the candidates’ travel schedule – during the next nine weeks.
Regardless of what happens Thursday and what the convention “bump” numbers look like, that appeal may be a big asset for Democrats going forward.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:13 am PDT
Biden will definitely help with the urban and middle class areas….little mention was made in the media of Kerry’s speech which was fantastic - His fighting words helped paint a picture of what has been and what could be….too bad he didn’t make more speeches like that four years ago….
maria consoli, Cape Cod
August 28th, 2008 at 8:49 am PDT
If you really care about Hillary and Bill Clinton, you honor them by giving them something back, What they asked for is for Hillary supporters to give Obama a chance and your vote. Don’t you think after all the Clintons have done for us it’s the least we can do? honor their choice and trust their request? When you compare Obama to McCain on the issues, and seriously go do it if you haven’t and are Democrat and truly believe in good Democratic values, you will see this is a no brainer. Obama was not my first choice, but he is the nominee now and will make a great President compared to McCain, no question. To all my fellow Hillary supporters let’s help our fellow Democrat Barack Obama out and show our party we are true Democrats, let’s show the Republicans they can’t split us apart and let’s show the world we can take back our country from the oppressors of the Republican dictatorship. The time is NOW.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:56 am PDT
Obama, Biden and the Clintons asked the critical question—more than once. “Are you better off than you were 8 years ago.” If only the people who can truly answer yes were to vote for McCain, he would get only about 5% of the vote. Isn’t that percent close to the number of registered voters who make over $4mil a year, which according to McCain, are the “rich”.
Maybe the rest will wake up, face the truth and vote for the Democratic ticket, the only ticket that represents the well being of all Americans and those who want to be.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:00 am PDT
Great comments here. I am a Hillary supporter but realize also what’s at stake in this election - supporting the solutions to issues as stated by the Democrats or more of the current agenda. I loved what Bill Clinton said last night, he pointed out two major goals for Obama - restoring American’s hope in the government and resotring US standing in the world. Obama and Biden will do that.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:03 am PDT
I wonder which convention the Republican TV reporters were watching. Judgeing from their snide, disingenuous and begrudgeing comments about the brilliant and historic speeches we all heard, one could almost taste the acrid flavor of sour grapes. On the other hand, relief IS near….we’ll all get some sleep during the GOP’s hate-fest next week.
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August 28th, 2008 at 9:06 am PDT
Let us not forget the promises and visions we have all heard from key political leaders at this convention after they have been in office for 2 or 3 years. Can Obama, if elected, really bring about change or will he succumb to the inertia that characterizes the Washington politial atmosphere? I typically vote straight-ticket Republican but I’m ready for a change–not a change in my values but perhaps taking a wider view on some of them. There was a time when the terms “conservative” and “Republican” were two sides of the same coin. Not any more…I know pick and choose candidates according to how well they can represent those things that I value–no candidate will bat 1.000, but who can be the most effective with those things I value most. I’m taking a longer look at the Obama-Biden ticket nowadays…
August 28th, 2008 at 9:30 am PDT
If I might ad to my previous post:
Regarding comments slamming “the rich” Republicans (like there are NO wealthy Democrats on the planet), I am 100% for equal opportunities for all and in all areas, but I’m not for any kind of “Robin Hood” legislation. Ideally, it would be our (all of us, not just Washington) moral duty to see that others have the same opportunities to achieve and become as the rest of us and many of us are involved with organizations that do in fact help others in that manner. But let us not confuse taking advantage of opportunity with entitlements. Let us all work to remove the “dis” from “disadvantaged” to provide equal opportunities, but at the same time, let us not encumber those who chose to excel with the opportunities they are given. Such a scenario is one Republicans fear may come to fruition with a Democrat in the White House.
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August 28th, 2008 at 9:59 am PDT
With the type Republicans we currently have in office, we’re ALL disadvantaged. 80% of us are disadvantaged in terms of economic opp’ty, health care, and job/home losses. Not just the $650 billion spent on Iraq, but much of the rest of the huge expenditures Bush has made have gone to corporate cronies that make bullets and oil. When CitiCorp needed cash to cover mortgage losses, they called China and Taiwan among others. China said no. When that lack of confidence reaches higher levels globally, our spend-now, pay-later economy will suffer a huge setback the likes of which we’ve not seen in several generations. I hope we all remember which President did it (Bush), and don’t blame the then current President.
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August 28th, 2008 at 10:23 am PDT
Beau Biden’s introduction to his father left me in tears. I had already read the story of Joe Biden’s first election to the Senate - the crash, his initial decision not to take office, and his painstaking efforts to balance the single-fatherhood with senate duties, including the drive home to Delaware every night. However, hearing the account from his son’s perspective, complete with details such as the statement, “Delaware can get another senator, but my boys can’t get another father.” and Beau’s memories of his father always being there for him and his brother, putting them to bed, being there in the middle of the night if they had bad dreams, making breakfast - all the way to his being there for their children, Joe’s grandchildren - really brought home to me the genuine, nitty-gritty, real-life hero that Joe Biden is. I am so proud to support the candidates in this election who truly LIVE the kind of family values that I believe in.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:12 am PDT
DoTheMath,
How do you congeal the Joe Biden presented on stage last night with this current event family disaster?
The Joe Biden stance on Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) of 2005. How do Dems “sell over ” the results of Biden’s push regarding it?
September 25th, 2008 at 9:25 am PDT
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October 28th, 2008 at 8:49 am PDT
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