Obama Planning Huge Convention Rally

It was the right speech ... the speech Dem had to give ... a mashup of speeches ...

(NEWSER) - The chattering class saw strength—even Rovian aggression—in Barack Obama’s acceptance speech, for better or worse. A sampling of what observers are saying:

• The Democratic nominee managed to be about voters, not himself, magnificently deflecting John McCain’s entire “celebrity” narrative, Michael Tomasky writes in the Guardian.
• This speech is exactly what Democrats have been calling for: a bare-knuckled attack on McCain, challenging the Republican "not to stoop to questioning his motives," Dan Balz writes in the Washington Post.

Klein: Obama shows off his pragmatic side in Denver

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama delivered "the perfect speech for a skeptical nation," writes Joe Klein in Time. Absent was Obama’s typical lofty oratory; in its place was a speech that was “lean, efficient, practical and very, very tough.” Obama’s goal was to prove that he was a pragmatist, not a dreamer, willing to take the fight to John McCain. More»

Speech has heft, but not lift

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama’s speech last night was a surprising gamble, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal. Obama was stern, serious—even indignant—and unusually joyless. "The speech itself lacked lift but had heft. It wasn't precisely long on hope, but I think it showed audacity." She notes the lack of the usual Obama charm. "All in all, a muted affair. But not one without power." More»

Speech brings Democratic nominee's campaign back to the elements

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama took on two of his greatest challenges head-on in his acceptance speech last night, Patrick Healy writes in the New York Times. The Democratic nominee added some down-to-earth proposals to his lofty talk of change, while proving he could take the fight to John McCain with "memorable fire," Healy writes. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama made the most of his historic night at Denver's packed Invesco Field with a broad-based attack on the "broken politics of Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush," Reuters reports. "We are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight," said Obama, who formally assumed the mantle of Democratic nominee. "On November 4th, we must stand up and say: 'Eight is enough.' More»