MOLINE, ILL.E — He’s been campaigning for more than 19 months, but Barack Obama said Monday voters still need to get to know him — a goal he hopes to achieve when he accepts the Democratic nomination in three days.
Standing on the tarmac in front of his campaign plane, Obama said he wants to accomplish two things in his acceptance speech Thursday night: clearly distinguish himself from Republican John McCain and “convey” to Americans who he is.
“During the course of a 19-month campaign, you’re on the television screen, you’re in big auditoriums, but sometimes who you are may get lost,” he said. “I want people to come away saying, ‘whether I’m voting for the guy or against the guy, I know what he stands for. I know where he comes from. I know what he believes.'”
In 2004, Democratic nominee John Kerry was criticized for being too soft on President Bush and the Republicans at the Democratic convention. However, Obama also risks being perceived as too harsh.
The Illinois senator said he will avoid being too negative in drawing contrasts with McCain by focusing on his agenda, which includes healthcare, energy and education
And he plans on delivering a “workman-like speech” that doesn’t contain a lot of “high rhetoric.”
Obama, taking questions from reporters for the first time in more than two weeks, also tried to pacify some of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton’s delegates who were upset he picked Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, instead of her, for his running mate. Some Clinton backers were also angry that he had not officially vetted Clinton as a VP candidate.
“There are going to be some of Senator Clinton’s supporters we have to work hard to persuade to come on board. That’s not surprising,” Obama said.
Yet, he declined to answer questions about the vetting process and how seriously he considered Clinton as a running mate
While he said Clinton “would’ve been on anyone’s short list,” when asked if she was on Obama’s, he didn’t say yes or no. Instead, he said: “I think you can make that conclusion.”
More Clinton drama simmered behind the scenes as word leaked out that President Bill Clinton might discuss domestic and economic issues in his Wednesday speech, instead of foreign policy — the theme for that evening.
Obama said he told President Clinton to talk about whatever he wanted.
“Bill Clinton knows a little bit about trying to yank the economy out of the doldrums,” Obama said. “It wouldn’t make sense for me to want to edit his remarks.”
Karen Crummy: 303-954-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com
