DENVER—Yes, the Democratic convention belongs to Barack Obama. We know, Hillary Rodham Clinton lost. But the fascination with Clinton goes on. What’s her political future? How does Obama win over her devoted followers? What should she say in her big convention speech? Five AP reporters offer quick takes on the former first lady who’s not going away anytime soon.
HER POWER
To her enemies, Hillary Rodham Clinton is a calculating political animal who made unforgivable compromises in her personal life to pursue her own ambition. But to women—particularly older, middle-class women—the former first lady is one of them. And therein lies the source of Clinton’s power, and her ability to twist Barack Obama’s arm so forcefully behind his back.
Clinton is the ultimate Washington insider who derived much of her power through her complicated marriage to the former president. But that’s only part of her story.
For millions of women, Clinton’s pioneering quest to be the first female president was every bit as groundbreaking as Obama’s candidacy has been to black voters. Her narrow loss to Obama in the primaries was crushing, particularly to women who believe they may never again have the chance to see a woman ascend to the White House in her own right.
These were the women who pressed against the rope line at the New York senator’s campaign events, bearing a book for her to sign or a tray of brownies for her to sample. Who would cry after posing arm-in-arm with her for a blurry camera-phone snapshot.
To be sure, Clinton probably lost the race through a lethal combination of campaign mismanagement and overconfidence. Obama won it, fair and square. But the professional political insiders who scoff at the connection Clinton forged with women voters do so at their peril.
—By Beth Fouhy
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UNITY? MAYBE LATER.
Democrats optimistic that their convention this week will end in a grand kumbaya moment between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters may find themselves sorely disappointed.
Outside the Pepsi Center, longtime Clinton strategist James Carville made it clear the wounds that festered during the drawn-out primary season are still pretty raw. “There’s still some … healing to do here,” Carville said, when asked how Clinton supporters are faring. “The healing process is going to be a little longer than four days.”
Not all Clinton backers have a desire to even start the healing process.
Take Will Bower, co-founder of a group of Clinton supporters. Hearing Bower talk about Obama, you might think you’re listening to Rush Limbaugh: “I find him inexperienced, I find him insincere. We have an unqualified candidate who has little more than empty rhetoric and a lot of money at his disposal.”
Ouch. And that’s a Democrat talking.
—By Kelly Daschle.
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UNCLASPING HANDS
Susie Tompkins Buell, a prominent Democratic donor and longtime Clinton financial backer, still has a fading “Hillary” campaign placard outside her estate in Bolinas, Calif.
Buell is Exhibit A in the Obama campaign’s challenge in Denver and beyond: how to tap into Hillary Power and channel it to Obama, winning over influential party activists like Buell who remain heartbroken over Clinton’s primary loss.
This is Clinton’s top priority at the Democratic National Convention: to unclasp hands with the hundreds of delegates committed to vote for her, and send them into her one-time rival’s camp. There are strong indications she will do that: A passionate pro-Obama speech she delivered in Fresno, Calif., on the eve of the convention; and a plan to release her delegates when they meet with her on Wednesday.
She also needs to give the most electrifying speech to date supporting Obama when she addresses the convention Tuesday night. And she needs to persuade her husband, the former president, to step up and do the same.
—By Scott Lindlaw.
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MISSION: CONNECT
If Sen. Barack Obama wants to convince Hillary Rodham Clinton’s loyal supporters to vote for him in November, he needs to introduce himself and offer more specifics.
Comfortability was a big factor in why women and working-class voters overwhelmingly voted for Clinton.
Speaking in large gatherings on the broad subject of change and criticizing John McCain’s record in negative TV ads, might not cut it. To win them over, he needs to connect with them at a personal level and offer more concrete plans on issues like the economy.
Michelle Obama’s scheduled appearance on stage at the Democratic convention Monday was part of an effort to reach out to women voters.
Obama’s selection of vice presidential running mate Sen. Joe Biden, who was working-class roots in Scranton, Pa., could help him make some headway with blue collar voters, particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania.
Ultimately, Obama’s the candidate at the top of the ticket. If women and working-class voters don’t feel a connection to him, he could lose their vote a second time.
—By Kim Hefling.
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STAY OR GO?
Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to stick around Denver for Barack Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night.
Stay vs. go? Either way, it’s a tough position to be in, especially for Clinton, who came closer than any other Democrat to walking in Obama’s shoes.
Some, no doubt, would like the New York senator to catch the next flight out of Denver after she speaks Tuesday night, and cede the spotlight to her Senate colleague from Illinois.
The week belongs to him, after all.
It’s his moment, and he deserves to bask in the glory of his achievement—without distractions.
But what if she left Denver before Obama’s speech?
Think of all the fun they’d have spelling “sore loser.”
Clinton says she’ll do everything she can to help Obama, because the ultimate goal is to get a Democrat back in the White House.
Topping that to-do list is encouraging her loyal supporters to back him.
Obama needs them, and Clinton has a huge role to play in delivering them.
So sticking around, putting on a good face and even watching from Invesco Field as Obama delivers his acceptance speech could be another way for the former first lady to signal her supporters that now really is the time to get with the program.
—By Darlene Superville.
