Skip navigation
MOST POPULAR RELATED TAGS
  • TOPICS
  • SECTORS
  • COMPANIES


Current DateTime: 10:48:53 14 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 23279696
Expiration DateTime: 11/14/2009 10:51:56 AM

Current DateTime: 10:48:54 14 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 24355697
powered by digg
See all Political Capital PostsPolitical Capital with John Harwood
Text Size
Aug.26
2:18 PM ET
Tuesday, 26 Aug 2008
Obama Family: Crucial Symbol in Dem Convention

There were two emotional centerpieces in the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

And another big one comes tonight -- with big consequences for the success of the DNC gathering in Denver.

The most dramatic moment Monday night came with the rousing speech by Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who traveled here despite suffering from brain cancer.

That galvanized delegates, for whom the Kennedy name still represents the gold standard in Democratic politics. And it helped Barack Obama, by shifting attention away from the backstage drama between his allies and those of Hillary Clinton, and toward the party's enduring ideals.

But perhaps more important for Obama was the speech by his wife Michelle. Her task was make to swing voters -- especially whites with some reservations about supporting the first African-American nominee -- more comfortable with the idea that Obama understands their lives and shares their values.

She did it by invoking the special moments that so many families can relate to: the birth of a child, the illness of a parent, the whispered nighttime conversations between siblings, the excitement of Christmas morning.

Obama himself, appearing live on video with a white family from Missouri, punctuated the point by exchanging "I love you's" with his young daughters, after they joined their mother on stage.

By praising Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama also took a first step in the campaign's attempt to unite the party more fully. Tonight, the attention shifts to Hillary Clinton and how effectively her prime-time speech calls on supporters to rally around Obama -- and surrender their lingering sense of grievance over her primary defeat.

Questions?  Comments?  Write to .

© 2009 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Tools:
PrintEmailAdd This share icon
Next Post
  • digg share

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

  • Warren Buffett and Bill Gates spoke to Columbia students, and Buffett made the students a startling offer.
  • Brian L. Roberts
  • For the chief of cable company Comcast, growth has been about making deals – generally very large deals.
  • Some companies may start using insurance to shift carbon risk from their balance sheets to maybe... yours?
  • The president and founder of Genesis Today wants to improve America’s health, and thinks Wal-Mart can help.
  • Switzerland's privacy watchdog is taking legal action to force Google to make changes to its Street View service.
  • A wealthy, distracted Texas driver crashed his million-dollar Bugatti Veyron sports car into a salt marsh, say police.
ADD COMMENTS
Remaining characters


Current DateTime: 01:04:47 14 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 01:04:47 14 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 01:04:47 14 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 01:04:04 14 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
  Data is a real-time snapshot  *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
A Division of NBC Universal
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters