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New York Times
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Aug 27, 08 12:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A former John McCain strategist described the odd mood in Denver perfectly, Maureen Dowd writes in the New York Times : “Submerged hate.” That would explain the uneasy proceedings, which have been marked more by Clintonian drama than anything else. At a recent new conference, Dowd observes, “Hillary looked as if she were straining at the bit to announce her 2012 exploratory committee.”
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Guardian (UK)
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Aug 27, 08 8:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton’s speech last night is getting rave reviews from the pundits, but she left too many key points unaddressed to get her most stubborn supporters on the Obama bandwagon, writes Michael Tomasky in the Guardian. The Dems' also-ran, in her critical pitch for party unity, failed to extol Obama’s character, say he was ready to be commander in chief, or attack McCain very hard.
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Washington Post
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Aug 26, 08 9:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton's mission in Denver tonight is both painful and fraught with peril, Marie Cocco writes in the Washington Post . As “cheerleader in chief" who may want to pursue another run herself, she can't really win—surely she'll be criticized for being either too methodical or too exuberant, and her supporters will misbehave—but Clinton has to know that going in, and “Clinton is a woman who knows how to lose.”
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Politico
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Aug 25, 08 5:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Here's what to watch at the Democratic National Convention tonight, Politico reports: Ted Kennedy, still recovering from surgery, "is definitely speaking tonight," one Dem said, and plans a memorable torch-passing to Barack Obama. Michelle Obama will try to sell herself as a strong but inoffensive first lady; whether America buys it may determine how she is used on the trail.
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Associated Press
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Aug 25, 08 4:57 PM CDT
(AP) -
The Democrats opened their 2008 presidential nominating convention today in Denver, a four-day political festival to nominate Barack Obama for president and fellow Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, was in Denver for the opening and might speak tonight to fellow Democrats still trying to recover from a long and bruising primary battle between Obama and Hillary Clinton.
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Rocky Mountain News
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Aug 25, 08 4:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday evening will be music to our ears—or will at least be accompanied by it, the Rocky Mountain News reports. Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen will perform acoustic songs during the star-studded festivities in Denver—though sources wouldn’t divulge which. Livin’ on a Prayer , perhaps? Born in the USA ?
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Associated Press
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Aug 25, 08 3:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are close to a deal to allow symbolic voting during Wednesday’s Democratic roll call, the AP reports, which Clinton herself might stop by asking for unanimous backing for Obama from the convention floor. While Clinton says she plans to vote for Obama, she wouldn’t demand the same of her delegates who “feel an obligation to the people who sent them here that they were elected to represent.”
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Politico
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Aug 25, 08 10:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Months after Hillary Clinton announced her support for Barack Obama, tensions between the two camps have flared again, Politico reports, and behind-the-scenes sniping in Denver is intense. Bill Clinton is unhappy with his speech assignment—Wednesday night's theme, securing America's future, leaves him little room to revisit the successes of his own presidency—while Obama aides say Clinton associates still act like the former first couple has leverage.
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Denver Post
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Aug 24, 08 6:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Democratic convention is ready to roll in Denver tomorrow despite a few hiccups, like the 1,500 anti-war marchers who gathered outside the Pepsi Center today, the Denver Post reports. But the "Recreate 68" protesters dispersed when asked by police, returning the spotlight to the Democrats' mega-plan—which includes 25,000 volunteers and a possible appearance by Sen. Edward Kennedy, the AP reports.
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CNN
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Aug 23, 08 12:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The presidential nominees are already decided—so why have conventions? “Money and publicity," Bill Schneider writes on CNN. Gala events are prime opportunities to milk donors, and high visibility has led “both parties try to control every minute of the convention as if it were a television show—because it is a television show.” But this year, writes Schneider, the convention hoopla hides two major shifts.
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Boston Globe
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Aug 22, 08 3:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Heading into their convention, Democrats are increasingly worried about what should be a gimme election. With his poll lead slipping or even disappearing, Barack Obama needs a strong convention showing, like Bill Clinton’s in 1992, Scot Lehigh writes in the Boston Globe . To do it, he’ll need to articulate his vision and message—and navigate the Clinton minefield.
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New York Times
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Aug 22, 08 9:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Yesterday Hillary Clinton gave a speech in Florida, site of her uncontested primary victory, and urged Democrats to vote for Barack Obama in November. But as the New York Times reports, many at the rally found her support for the presumptive nominee lukewarm at best. In a room full of her supporters, the sentiment prevailed that Clinton's performance was more perfunctory than heartfelt.
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Politico
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Aug 14, 08 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Charles Rangel won’t be speaking at the Democratic National Convention, Politico reports. Representatives made a pitch for an address by the House Ways and Means Chairman, but the Obama campaign told them that Rangel’s early support for Hillary Clinton had given him low priority—even though the congressman played a crucial role in persuading Clinton to bow out.
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The Atlantic
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Aug 14, 08 11:09 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton’s delegates will be counted in Denver, the Atlantic Monthly’s Marc Ambinder reports, as her supporters near an agreement with Barack Obama’s. Reports of tensions over the issue are exaggerated, advisers on both sides tell Ambinder. Both sides agree that overlooking Clinton could anger her supporters, as would a delegate count below the 1,896.5 she earned in the primaries.
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New York Times
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Aug 13, 08 11:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Despite losing the nomination months ago, Hillary Clinton is taking her fight to the convention, writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times. The New York senator’s continued machinations show she "feels no guilt about encouraging her supporters to mess up Obama’s big moment, thus undermining his odds of beating John McCain and improving her odds of being the nominee in 2012."
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San Francisco Chronicle
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Aug 12, 08 7:26 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A group of Hillary Clinton's delegates are working to make sure their candidate's name is put up for nomination at the Democratic convention, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Clinton backers say the symbolic move will serve as recognition for the 18 million voters who chose Hillary in the primaries, and whose votes will be vital in November.
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Denver Post
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Aug 8, 08 1:26 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Colorado’s allotment of seats for Barack Obama’s Aug. 28 acceptance speech is accounted for, the Denver Post reports, with 60,000 people applying in 24 hours to be part of the bloc of about 30,000. There will be 60,000-75,000 seats available at Denver’s Invesco Field, with about half reserved for the host state. Requests from all states must be made by Tuesday, the AP adds.
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Chicago Tribune
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Aug 7, 08 3:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Reps for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are underlining their message of Democratic unity, the Chicago Tribune reports, after the emergence of video footage in which Clinton said she thought some gesture by her delegates to the party convention—perhaps even the placing of her name in nomination—could be cathartic for the Democratic party. Ben Smith, in Politico, thinks such a move unlikely, and a dissonant note Obama wants to avoid.
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New York Times
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Aug 7, 08 9:05 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Democrats are making a major push for Catholic voters, a demographic that decisively chose George W. Bush over the Catholic John Kerry in 2004. To win back a once-reliable constituency, Democrats may offer a convention speaking slot to Bob Casey, the Pennsylvania senator who opposes abortion rights. Even so, the New York Times reports, getting Catholics to vote Barack Obama may be difficult.
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Chicago Tribune
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Aug 3, 08 7:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama is urging the Democratic National Committee to count Florida and Michigan primary votes at full strength, the Chicago Tribune 's Swamp blog reports. In a letter to the DNC, Obama wrote that the delegates—demoted 3 months ago to half-votes in a committee compromise—"must know that they are full partners and colleagues in our historic mission to reshape Washington."
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