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The Note: Kennedy Crowds Out Even Clintons on Opening Night

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August 25, 2008 10:16 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Monday's Note:

DENVER --

Michelle will be the evening’s star, and Hillary and Bill will always be good for the drama -- but only Ted is the inspiration.

This is one of those rare cases where Sen. Barack Obama won’t mind seeing his message overshadowed -- even though it’s opening night of his convention, and even though the marquee player is supposed to be his wife. (Every Kennedy moment is a Clinton moment that isn’t.)

Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., will provide an emotional lift, an all-time convention highlight, a room full of tears, an ovation delegates will never want to end -- plus a cementing of the ties between the Kennedy legacy and Obama.

Kennedy is in planning on being on stage Monday night -- and right there you’ll have your event for the evening, maybe for the week.

“Expect a thunderous reception when he takes the stage at the conclusion of the video,” per ABC News. “It's likely to be the emotional high point of the evening -- if not of the entire convention.”

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.

“The senator has recently told people that he has a speech written for the convention and that he badly wants to come, pending a final medical consultation,” Susan Milligan reports in The Boston Globe. “Buzz has built among Massachusetts politicos that Kennedy would come, and yesterday a Bay State Democrat close to the family confirmed that Kennedy has decided to travel to Denver, probably for an opening-night address.” 

Said Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.: “If he's up to it in the 11th hour and can get the green light from doctors, he might be able to pull it off.”

You think that’s dramatic? Check back in with the Storyline That Will Not Go Away -- the one not even delegate talking points can subsume. 

The peace offerings are nice and genuine; in truth, convention disruptions may hurt Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton even more than they hurt Obama, and the Clinton folks have begun to realize that.

There’s the symbolic “release” of her convention delegates, full representation for Florida and Michigan -- and amid the final negotiations, perhaps even a shelving of the roll-call vote Obama never wanted, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos reports.

“She’s the question of the convention,” Stephanopoulos said on “Good Morning America” Monday. Clinton folks “don’t want to get blamed for a bad convention.”

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

August 25, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred, Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (19)

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Ted is a Great man. He has done so much work for people in this country that really needed it. As everyone has, he's had his problems, but I'm sure there is a special seat reserved for this man in Heaven. He's worked tirelessly and suffered some terrible losses in his lifetime. I can't wait to see him, I hope he gets his doctor's approval for tonight.

Posted by: pt | Aug 25, 2008 10:54:05 AM

Liberals! Liberals! Liberals!

Obama #1 liberal in Senate
Biden #3 liberal in Senate
Kennedy lifetime liberal

Posted by: geevill | Aug 25, 2008 10:58:38 AM

Nice Frank, he has brain cancer and you focus on that. No wonder this country is going to the dogs.

Posted by: zz | Aug 25, 2008 10:59:15 AM

Ted Kennedy couldn't win Massachusetts for 0bama. Were you paying attention?

Posted by: beebop | Aug 25, 2008 11:06:06 AM

Will the film on his life include Chappaquiddick? I know he has had lots of tragedy in his life .... but lots of it he brought upon himself.

Posted by: Georgie | Aug 25, 2008 11:11:34 AM

Reality Check for Bozo Supporters ...

The latest polls are showing :

Obama = 47%
McCain = 47%

That is ZERO% lead for forerunner Obama.

Posted by: Honey, I shrunk the lead | Aug 25, 2008 11:23:46 AM

I hope they have a momonet of silence in memeory of Mary Jo.

Posted by: geevill | Aug 25, 2008 11:28:22 AM

geevil #1 american moron

Posted by: bhrandon | Aug 25, 2008 11:38:07 AM

I cannot believe the DNC is seating FL and MI ... that is after they denied HRC when she was making the case during the primary ...

Trust the Kennedys, Pelosi and Dean ...

Posted by: Travesty | Aug 25, 2008 12:01:04 PM

Clintonistas, Get the message: SHE LOST! Get over it and support the party or go vote for McBush, you traitors

Posted by: Hoo-Ahh! | Aug 25, 2008 12:23:03 PM

Yes, Ted will have a special place in heaven -right next to the woman he left for dead in Chappaquiddick.


Posted by: Frank- South Hampton | Aug 25, 2008 12:31:16 PM

Michelle Obama, Carter, Kennedy -oh it's a real winning line-up there.

The Democrats have embarked on a highly visible effort to make their convention the "greenest" ever, focusing on everything from expanded recycling to more creative programs like encouraging Denver restaurants to offer "lean 'n' green" meals made with healthful, organic, and locally sourced ingredients. But not all of their environmentally friendly initiatives have gone as planned. Take the hotel card keys, for example. Instead of the traditional plastic cards, the Sheraton in downtown handed guests Visa-sponsored swipe cards "made from sustainably-harvested wood." The plan lasted all of a few hours. By Saturday night, enough guests had reported problems getting into their rooms with the wooden cards that the front desk clerks had abandoned them and switched back to the plastic cards. A clerk said they were now handing out one of each and suggested that the wooden one could kept as a souvenir.

Posted by: geevill | Aug 25, 2008 12:43:14 PM

geevill, what's your point?????????

Posted by: ? | Aug 25, 2008 12:51:01 PM

THE WHOLE PROCESS IS A BIG JOKE...
DEMOCRATS ARE DIVIDED........
THEY DON'T LIKE OBAMA.....
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS WILL BE A DISASTER
FOR THE DEMOCRATS......
WE ALL KNOW THAT DNC NOMINATED OBAMA
BECAUSE THEY LOSE EVERY 4 YEARS....
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK THIS YEAR EITHER.
I'M A DEMOCRAT BUT I WILL VOTE
REPUBLICAN THIS YEAR.......

Posted by: Jackson | Aug 25, 2008 1:46:53 PM

Democrat voting Republican this year! Obama/Biden, poor excuses!

McCain 08!

Posted by: TJ | Aug 25, 2008 1:49:34 PM

Yes, Ted will have a special place in heaven -right next to the woman he left for dead in Chappaquiddick.


Posted by: Frank- South Hampton | Aug 25, 2008 12:31:16 PM

You mean the woman he murdered and got away with.....Ted Kennedy---a total drunk!

Posted by: mark | Aug 25, 2008 1:50:36 PM

Liberals! Liberals! Liberals!

Obama #1 liberal in Senate
Biden #3 liberal in Senate
Kennedy lifetime liberal

Posted by: geevill | Aug 25, 2008 10:58:38 AM

I AGREE....TOTALLY AGREE!!!!

Posted by: DAVID | Aug 25, 2008 1:51:45 PM

geevil you're great and I have a crush on you...have for months.

Posted by: Debra | Aug 25, 2008 3:13:40 PM

Isn't it amazing that a man who clearly has everything he needs, wants, and desires is still fighting for YOU, the American people. He has healthcare, money, and family, and still takes time out of his own medical treatment to try to obtain the goals and hopes of the average American. Amazing. Ask yourself-Can you picture the Bush Administration or the McCains doing this? I cannot.Kennedy would not endorse Obama if he was not the right candidate for YOU.It might not matter to him after all in the upcoming years. Great guy-believable, and trustworthy.

Posted by: Shannon | Aug 26, 2008 10:42:51 AM

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