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Democrats gather for Obama's coronation
US Democrats worked yesterday to unite the party for its convention to nominate presidential candidate Barack Obama as Republicans stirred up a rift with disaffected supporters of his former rival Hillary Clinton.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:12 August 25, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Obama faces a challenge this week to try to heal the party rift, draw a sharp contrast between himself and Republican rival John McCain.
US Democrats worked yesterday to unite the party for its convention to nominate presidential candidate Barack Obama as Republicans stirred up a rift with disaffected supporters of his former rival Hillary Clinton.
Obama faces a challenge this week to try to heal the party rift, draw a sharp contrast between himself and Republican rival John McCain and back up his soaring oratory with specifics of what he would do if he wins the White House.
As they prepared Thursday's acceptance speech, Democrats gathering for the convention in Denver have seen polls showing backing from Clinton supporters, who lost the contest for the party's presidential nomination, slipping even as the race between Obama and McCain tightened.
Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs told CNN the choice before voters in November would be between Obama and McCain, and noted that Clinton herself had publicly thrown her support behind the Illinois senator. "If we put the choice in front of delegates here and voters all across this country, who's going to help rebuild this economy and put your family back to work, who's going keep your family safe at night, who's going to reduce our dependence on foreign oil ... The best person to do those things isn't John McCain, it's Barack Obama," Gibbs said.
"Hillary Clinton's worked with both of these guys and she's come to the same conclusion. Barack Obama is her guy," he said.
But senior McCain aide Carly Fiorina said disgruntled women supporters of Hillary Clinton "want a leader who's judgment and experience they can trust".
Fiorina also threw oil on the flames of the Democrats' split, saying many Democratic women were "stunned" that Obama praised his vice-presidential pick Senator Joe Biden as a good debater and campaigner "when Hillary was clearly in the Democratic primaries the woman who, the person, who gathered the most votes - 18 million of them - was a great debater and a great campaigner."
Some Clinton supporters had still wanted Obama to pick her as his running mate.
Many delegates in Denver were looking to see to what extent Clinton, and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, will actively rally her supporters behind Obama in speeches to the convention this week.
As Obama, 47, enters the convention he has yet to answer doubts among many Americans about where he would take the country if elected but most Democrats are confident the man who would be America's first black president is in a strong position to defeat Vietnam war hero McCain, 71.
Obama's spokesman, Bill Burton, laid out two goals for the convention.
"We want to make sure people know exactly who Senator Obama is and where he wants to take the country, and two, that voters know their choice in this election, between Barack Obama, who wants to fundamentally change the way business is done in Washington, and John McCain, who is just more of the same of what we have had over the course of the last eight years," he said.
Obama "needs to change the direction of his campaign" by tying McCain more closely to President George W. Bush, unpopular due to the Iraq war and weak economy, said Democratic strategist Doug Schoen, who worked in the Clinton White House.
Obama also needs to limit the uplifting rhetoric and outline sharper differences with McCain on tax policy, energy, housing and job creation, Schoen said.
"He's got to be focused, simple and clear, rather than elegiac. This is not a great novel. This is a short, clear, focused discussion ... Unless it is clear and real simple, he has failed."
The opening night at the convention is dedicated to highlighting Obama's life story, his commitment to change, and those calling for a new direction in the country.
KEY QUESTIONS
What is the convention for?
Both the Democrats and Republicans hold a nominating convention in election year, every four years. The Republicans hold theirs in St Paul, Minnesota, from September 1. The chief purpose is to formally nominate the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Didn't we know Barack Obama was the nominee?
Correctly speaking he is currently only the presumptive nominee, and will formally become the nominee on Thursday, the final day of the convention.
So why bother?
To gee up the party for the November election. More than 4,000 party delegates from 50 states will assemble to hear speakers, meet their Congressmen, wave banners and make a lot of noise. Obama also needs a boost to his flat performance against John McCain in opinion polls.
Who are the key speakers?
Apart from Obama and his vice-presidential pick Senator Joe Biden, all eyes will be on Bill and Hillary Clinton when they address the convention on today and tomorrow. We'll also be hearing from Michelle Obama and various party luminaries such as the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former Vice-President Al Gore.
When does Obama make his big appearance?
He has broken with tradition and is moving his acceptance speech on Thursday to an American football stadium that seats 75,000. Demand for seats has still exceeded supply.
Who is a running mate?
The running mate is a presidential candidate's selection to be the vice-presidential candidate in the coming election. While technically nominated by the convention, the vice-president in modern times has been the choice of the candidate who emerges from the primary elections campaign with the greatest support. Barack Obama has chose Joe Biden for the post.
What is an electoral college?
The president is chosen by "electors" who emerge from the presidential election, scheduled November 4 this year. Each state is allotted "electors" based roughly on its population, and they meet in an "Electoral College" in December to choose the president.
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