Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland gets off a good line you might hear again later in the campaign: "Barack Obama saved the auto industry. Mitt Romney saved on his taxes."
More from Gov. Patrick: "Let's tell everyone we meet, when the American dream is on the line, we want Barack Obama in charge." The base is fired up. Will it be enough to help Obama close the enthusiasm gap? And will it play to independents?
The Democrats are clearly more disciplined at staying on message so far than the Republicans were last week. That may not translate into votes, in the grand scheme of things, but the base is clearly on fire.
The decision to move Obama's acceptance speech indoors prevents some touchy optics -- a major address in a stadium named for a financial institution.
Whispers of "Who's next?" at the Democratic National Convention is mostly focused in one direction: Hillary. Win or lose this year, the Democrats need to queue-up the candidates for 2016. And while we're no longer sure she will be part of an Obama administration in the early second term, Hillary for sure will take one more look at a run at the White House (if she decides to stay on with President Obama, State, Treasury and probably Pentagon are all perches on which Mrs. Clinton can dwell).
Many hardcore Hillary backers have been pressing the idea for months, but now some top lawmakers and connected Democrats are hoping she will give it serious consideration. They think she will be tough to beat. So does her husband, who is all for his wife taking another shot at the presidency.
Hillary is traveling in Asia this week doing the work of a Secretary of State, so, as our colleague Rich Sammon reported last week on Kiplinger's GOP Convention blog, she's missing the Democrats' bash in Charlotte. But she has the best surrogate in all of politics to quietly do her bidding: Her husband, former President Bill Clinton. So tonight when the Big Dog howls on behalf of Obama in the convention's keynote speech, in the back of many delegates' minds will be the thought that Hillary's time is yet to come.
What's the downside? The only media-driven downside being discussed is age, but that tired, old, contrived hurdle is going the way of the dodo bird. Hillary will turn 69 in the fall of 2016. That's not that old. Sixty-nine is the new 55. It's another example of why retirement age is sure to be raised routinely over the next couple of decades.
If Hillary decides to go for it, she would be even welcomed back into the administration after taking a break, if it would help launch her bid. Clinton is Obama's most versatile Cabinet member and he trusts her counsel. The President needs her and owes her. Bill Clinton's enhanced role in the Obama campaign is another chit. Bubba loves being in the political spotlight again, but he also knows he's carrying a very big IOU from Obama for Hillary.
GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, on CNN, regarding Bill Clinton: "I think we'll hear a lot about the 1990s, but not the last four years." He also said Obama inherited a bad economic situation, but "he made it worse."
GOP media guru Alex Castellanos, on CNN, after Clinton's speech: "This will probably be the moment that re-elects Barack Obama." Yep, a Republican said that.
In yet another high profile appeal to women voters, Vice President Biden tonight is sure to trumpet work he led while in Congress to reduce violence against women. When he was Senate Judiciary chairman in the 1990s Biden led adoption of a landmark law requiring local governments to boost a whole variety of efforts to reduce attacks on women, including domestic abuse. Republicans blocked it from passing for years, saying the issue was a state and local matter.
A renewed pledge we'll hear from the president tonight in Charlotte is for a much larger federal commitment to promote green economy industries.
Critics will say Obama pledged the same thing in 2008 and will spotlight setbacks in the effort, especially the Solyndra solar power company debacle where $500 million in taxpayer funding was lost.
The emerging green economy is just too large for Obama not to mention in his acceptance speech. Private investors need a federal spark before they commit equity to innovative green companies.
Obama is sure to call federal support of green industries a jobs and export promotion act all on its own.
As he addresses the Democratic convention tonight, Sen. John Kerry must be having some might-have-been thoughts. In an alternate universe, President Kerry might be finishing his second term.
Not ready for prime time? Vice presidents usually get a prime time speaking role, but not Joe Biden. He's speaking momentarily, but the networks don't sign on until 10 p.m., just in time for President Obama's acceptance speech.
Kiplinger's Dave Morris has great point that Biden, the vice president of the U.S.A., won't speak in prime time. That's a sign that President Obama will outright consume most all of the prime time on the big broadcast networks. Read: Election is about top of ticket.
There's a subplot here, too. Biden, as we've seen, sometimes shoots from the lip. A slip on a night when has the prime speaking slot would be magnified. A slip tonight would quickly be overshadowed by Obama's speech.
I was just thinking that, Ken. Democrats haven't missed a chance to pay tribute to veterans at this convention, in speeches and in videos.
Convention erupts when Ex-OH Gov Ted Strickland says, "If Mitt were Santa Claus, he would fire the reindeer & outsource the elves." #kipcvnby bazmaniandevil via twitter 9/5/2012 2:03:59 AM
In yet another high profile appeal to women voters, Vice President Biden tonight is sure to trumpet work he led while in Congress to reduce violence against women. When he was Senate Judiciary chairman in the 1990s Biden led adoption of a landmark law requiring local governments to boost a whole variety of efforts to reduce attacks on women, including domestic abuse. Republicans blocked it from passing for years, saying the issue was a state and local matter.
