Demoratic nomination

The first words uttered by the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama, was to thank his grandmother in Hawaii “for making him the man he is.” A poignant moment in what became an outstanding and uplifting speech by the senator. His grandmother, nicknamed Toot, has been throughout his life a steadying influence and his acknowledgement of her goes to the heart of the Barack Obama story. He is an historic figure who defeated an historic figure as well. But once the hype dies down, the American electorate will start looking more at character than at making history. This will be the challenge of Barack Obama in the days and weeks ahead-to reintroduce himself to the American electorate beyond the Democratic Party.

In recent days everyone from pundits to strategists have generally concluded Hillary Clinton has either lost the nomination or has, at best, a faint hope of winning. Even the late night comedians are saying Hillary is leading in the state of ‘denial.’ But Senator Clinton is as resilient as they come. She intends to stay in a race until it is mathematically impossible to win and, if Senator Obama has not clinched the nomination before the Convention, she will provoke a decision on the floor of the Convention. This is what her spinner says, and this is what both Clintons indicate.