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The Note: Obama Poised to Claim Democratic Party

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August 28, 2008 10:19 AM

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

DENVER --

Even if it’s disappointed those who were looking for chaos rather than comity, they’ve had their roles: The defeated rival, coming to terms with a real kind of inevitability; the former leader, bestowing his blessings at long, long last; an evening capped by the grizzled veteran, basking in his moment -- and lighting the path for the chosen one.

In case Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., needed to see how it was done on Thursday, a couple of old pros made it work for him Wednesday. By the time Obama heard the roar of the crowd for himself, a convention that looked dangerously close to veering off track was tantalizingly close to fulfilling its goals.

Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., made the case for Obama -- and against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. -- more eloquently, coherently, and tactically than maybe even that guy at the top of the ticket.

Former President Bill Clinton completed the sentiments his wife started (but didn’t finish) articulating the night before -- and for a night, and perhaps now for a campaign, we witnessed grace and generosity.

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.

And the masterstroke: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D- N.Y., made the final, minutely choreographed gesture herself. “Clinton did the honors for the man who had denied her dream of becoming the first woman ever nominated to lead a major party,” Dan Balz and Anne Kornblut write in The Washington Post.

(Suddenly, with McCain poised to pick a running mate, does it seem that the drama is drifting in the general vicinity of St. Paul?)

At last, a message: “This week's events served as a national debut, of sorts, for the Obama campaign attack machine, even if that machinery is operated mostly by supporters and aides, rather than the candidate himself,” Peter Wallsten and Doyle McManus write in the Los Angeles Times. “It was clear that the campaign has settled on its favorite theme: portraying McCain as out of touch economically and an identical twin to President Bush.”

Now, Obama just has to give at least the second-best speech of his life Thursday night at Invesco Field at Mile High -- while not letting the setting become the story. (He’s presumptive no more, but that doesn’t take care of presumptuous.)

“His campaign has gambled on the historic moment by creating a stage that will magnify his performance,” Eli Saslow writes in The Washington Post.

“Succeed here, in front of the largest Democratic National Convention crowd in nearly 50 years, and Obama's speech will be remembered as one of the most powerful moments in modern politics, a perfect launch into the final stage of the general election,” he writes. “Fail, and Obama risks fueling Republicans' criticism that he is an aloof celebrity, fond of speaking to big crowds, but incapable of forming genuine connections.”

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

August 28, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Palin, Sarah, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred, Veepstakes | Permalink | User Comments (62)

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I am going to vote for Obama because he is black.

And i will bet the farm that the Clinton's will vote for McCain after they are forever labeled RACISTS thanks to Obama

Posted by: hammer time | Aug 28, 2008 10:29:57 AM

The best thing is after Obama loses we will never have to see the Freak Show Obama or the Freak Show Ted Kennedy ever again

Posted by: roffer | Aug 28, 2008 10:31:36 AM

The truth of the matter its only because of blacks that Obama will not lose in a landslide not the college punks or the YUPPIES like the MEDIA wants you to believe.

Take away the black vote and Obama would be already losing in the polls by 10 percent.

Posted by: denny boy | Aug 28, 2008 10:34:06 AM

Left-wing radicals, like Jeremiah Wright, Michael Pfleger, and William Ayers, are closer to making America "an Obama nation".

Posted by: USmarine0331 | Aug 28, 2008 10:42:54 AM

Denny: "The truth of the matter its only because of blacks that Obama will not lose in a landslide"

Okay fair enough. African-Americans are something like 11-12 percent of the population, and they are supporting Obama heavily... by roughly the same percentages as they supported Kerry, and Gore...

But you are right. If you take away that reliable voting bloc, the Democrats have a much tougher time. So, what's your point?

Someone could make the same point regarding McCain's numbers. "Sure, its close, but look how much of a landslide it would be if we took out the evangelical vote."

Posted by: Paul | Aug 28, 2008 10:46:44 AM

Obama is fighting for all of us....including hammer time, roofer and denny boy.

When Obama wins and your life improves, please remember your disgusting racist juvenile comments you have made today.

OBAMA/BIDEN for the people of this Nation.

Posted by: beck | Aug 28, 2008 10:47:22 AM

beck - I'll tell you what frightens me a little. A guy who has so little self-control he once reacted to being interrupted by trying to start a fight with the offending 95-year-olds... that guy suddenly being given U.S. nuclear launch codes.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 28, 2008 10:55:31 AM

President Clinton's speech last night was fantastic. He's a natural and all hostility is forgiven. Go Bill!

I laugh when I think of how the inarticulate GWB is stessed that the bar has been set. GWB can't even read from a teleprompter without bumbling.

Posted by: ohiogal | Aug 28, 2008 10:55:55 AM

Fox News is reporting that Bill Clinton is telling people off-record in Denver that Obama is a "Chicago thug." Hannity betting Clintons will do all they can behind the scenes to make sure Obama loses, already planning Hillary's run in 2012. Biden and Obama can't stand each other, Obama was forced to take Biden to shore up natl affairs experience. Jamie Allman, 97.1 in St. Louis, reporting that tension on floor reached fever pitch yesterday. Some Hillary supporters threatening to walk off floor, Obama supporters pleading with them to stay. Jimmy Carter's nerves frazzled, screamed at Rosalyn in the elevator. Harry Reid turning his back on Fox Reporters, won't answer questions about surge in Iraq, claims Dems are a united Party. Some Hillary supporters laughing at the temple, referring to Obama as a Greek God. Obama supporters grumbling about "racist" Hillary supporters. Yep, this is a real united Party.

Posted by: Loving American Politics | Aug 28, 2008 10:56:19 AM

For anyone who is wondering (because they presumably know so little about the guy they are supporting), that previous message was a reference to McCain.

McCain started a scuffle with a 95-year-old Strom Thurmond a few years back.

Thurmond's offense was to ask if McCain was almost done speaking, while on the floor of the Senate. McCain seethed, thanked Thurmond for his "courtesy," and then waited to catch Thurmond later in a Capitol hallway.

I guess we can take some relief in the fact that McCain at least had enough self-control to wait a couple minutes, and not go right after Thurmond on the floor of the Senate.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 28, 2008 10:59:31 AM

This is the two really disturbing parts here. One is how little it take to get McCain seething mad. The second is that so many of his supporters seem to know so little about this.

You all heard he once called his second wife a really bad word, right? Do you know why?

According to reports, Cindy, before a campaign event, tasseled his hair and said, "you're getting a little thin here."

And he exploded with some incoherent, illogical, overly-emotional response along the lines of: "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you [expletive]."

Posted by: Paul | Aug 28, 2008 11:04:36 AM

Here's an interesting classroom activity. Let's all google "senator hothead" and see which of 100 current and who-knows-how-many past senators all the hits are about.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 28, 2008 11:07:39 AM

"In case Sen. Barack Obama needed to see how it was done on Thursday, a couple of old pros made it work for him Wednesday."

You guys just don't want to admit it, do you?

Obama is the one who made those "old pros" work for him last night.

Remember? He beat their pants off.

Posted by: pedestrian | Aug 28, 2008 11:08:41 AM

McCain was only a POW but
his promoters have turned
him into a fake war hero
and a national security expert.

Posted by: anon | Aug 28, 2008 11:11:36 AM

Just months ago, the Clintons said that Obama wasn't ready to be President. Now they say he IS ready. Were they lying then or lying now.

Bill Clinton shaking his finger as he spoke just brought back memories of his famous "sexual relations" retort.

Is honesty and integrity to be ignored by the Dems and the press?

Posted by: steve miller | Aug 28, 2008 11:18:05 AM

Obama swoops in to claim his stolen prize.

Obama is a hypocrit who used Bush's florida tactics to steal the nomination. He is the epitomy of chicago politics. Evil and corrupt.

His unending train of questionable friends and associates just go to prove how much his judgement is lacking. Either that or he is as corrupt as those friendships make him look. Either way he has no business even being considered for office.

Bill and Hillary are saying and doing all the right things. They can't be blamed for Obama's inevitable loss in november. He has run out of kool-aid, the country isn't buying his lies.

Hillary will pick up the pieces of the broken democratic party after november. She will return it to the center and come 2012 take the presidency.

Posted by: Hillary2012 | Aug 28, 2008 11:21:47 AM

Paul: I totally agree with you on all of the above.
I wish before people praised McCain they would actually take some of that time that they are using and go and find out WHO McCain really is and what he is really all about. The true McCain, the McCain who voted 95% (when he showed up for work) of the time against each and everyone of us is an empty suite, hot head, arrogant, juvenile, loser.

Posted by: beck | Aug 28, 2008 11:27:28 AM

Hillary2012: "Either way he has no business even being considered for office."

So you're going to vote for someone who is more fit for office... as in someone who explodes and calls his wife the c-word, someone who explodes and attacks 95-year-olds...

Someone who so regularly explodes and showers the walls of the Capitol with with language ABC won't let us post here that he's earned the universal nickname of Senator Hothead...

Someone who exploded at those damned Russkies, basically claiming his intent as president to consider a Russian attack on Georgia as an attack on the United States... a bizarre reaction that even experienced national security hands from his own party didn't echo...

Someone like that? That's who you're supporting?

Just checking.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 28, 2008 11:32:49 AM

Not to mention that McCain has one of worst voting records on women's rights.

Posted by: erin | Aug 28, 2008 11:35:42 AM

McCain is a dangerous and
unskilled national security
expert. He's making new
enemies all the time
for no good reason.

When the Dems take over the
White House in four months,
a lot of their time will be
spent mending roiled relations
with Russia.

Posted by: anon | Aug 28, 2008 11:36:51 AM

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