Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention in support of Barack Obama's candidacy was good. Maybe too good.
Clinton's speech contained plenty - campaign slogans for Democrats to carry into the fall ('No way, no how, no McCain"), an intelligent if not emotional case for why her supporters should vote for Obama in the fall, and the first direct hits from the convention on John McCain's candidacy.
In fact, until Clinton's speech Tuesday, the Democrats' convention had been lifeless and lame. The former First Lady provided a spark the party needed.
She accomplished what was necessary - to give Obama her full endorsement and support. But she also may have made people start to wonder whether Obama missed an opportunity in bypassing Clinton as his running mate.
The Clintons remain standard-bearers in the Democratic Party. That was evident Tuesday night in Denver, and likely will be again tonight when former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak ahead of vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden.
It is obvious from the disunity that remains within the party, and the very vocal crowd Tuesday, that Hillary's following remains strong. So strong that even Tuesday's speech may not be able to convince some of her supporters to vote for Obama in the fall.
And it was clear Tuesday that Hillary Clinton may have the strongest voice to challenge McCain on the campaign trail. Her presence, and Bill's, may very well overshadow Biden's on the campaign trail. All of this is certain to cause second thoughts about whether Obama wouldn't have been better to pick Clinton as his running mate.
Assuming Hillary continues what she started Tuesday through November in campaigning for Obama, her standing within the Democratic Party is secure. Bill Clinton can solidify his by doing in his speech tonight one thing that Hillary fell short of Tuesday - making a specific, compelling argument that Obama is ready to be president.
Clinton's speech contained plenty - campaign slogans for Democrats to carry into the fall ('No way, no how, no McCain"), an intelligent if not emotional case for why her supporters should vote for Obama in the fall, and the first direct hits from the convention on John McCain's candidacy.
In fact, until Clinton's speech Tuesday, the Democrats' convention had been lifeless and lame. The former First Lady provided a spark the party needed.
She accomplished what was necessary - to give Obama her full endorsement and support. But she also may have made people start to wonder whether Obama missed an opportunity in bypassing Clinton as his running mate.
The Clintons remain standard-bearers in the Democratic Party. That was evident Tuesday night in Denver, and likely will be again tonight when former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to speak ahead of vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden.
It is obvious from the disunity that remains within the party, and the very vocal crowd Tuesday, that Hillary's following remains strong. So strong that even Tuesday's speech may not be able to convince some of her supporters to vote for Obama in the fall.
And it was clear Tuesday that Hillary Clinton may have the strongest voice to challenge McCain on the campaign trail. Her presence, and Bill's, may very well overshadow Biden's on the campaign trail. All of this is certain to cause second thoughts about whether Obama wouldn't have been better to pick Clinton as his running mate.
Assuming Hillary continues what she started Tuesday through November in campaigning for Obama, her standing within the Democratic Party is secure. Bill Clinton can solidify his by doing in his speech tonight one thing that Hillary fell short of Tuesday - making a specific, compelling argument that Obama is ready to be president.
