Hillary Clinton will be arriving momentarily to deliver her speech celebrating her campaign for President and to endorse Barack Obama. The live blog will be below the fold.
By Big Tent Democrat
Just a note, unlike Jeralyn, I am not a good transcriber. What I do in a live blog is comment upon what is said in the speech. If you are looking to follow the speech from my comments, you'll be missing out. My comments assume you are watching the speech.
The Clintons arrive to a tumultuous welcome.
She begins . . . the crowd won't let her. It is a moving moment.
Starts by thanking her supporters.
I wonder if people are yet realizing that yes, there are Hillary Clinton Democrats.
"18 million of you from all walks of life . . . "
She speaks to her issues and her folks.
"You'll find me on the front lines of the fight . . ."
Endorses Obama. Sez that is the next step in the fight. Some boos are audible.
Throws her full support behind him and asks all of her supporters to join her in the fight for Obama.
She ties electing Obama to her won fights. She speaks well of him of course but she ties it to the issues she cares about.
"The Democratic Party is a family. It is time to come together around the values we share."
Especially stresses the issue of universal health care.
Reminds that Democrats have won only 3 of the last 10 elections. And that the man who won 2 of those elections is there today.
Stresses how important it is that a Democrat be in the White House. This is an excellent line of argument.
This is a great way of talking about Obama to Clinton supporters, imo. She lays out the issues vision and ties it to the phrase "and that's why we have to elect Barack Obama President."
Shifts to the historic nature of this race. Discusses the barriers and biases she faced in an understated way.
Let me say that I find this a wonderfully crafted speech. I think she is delivering it with force and logic. But with feeling and emotion. This is a great speech imo.
Let me tell you why I think it is a great speech. She talked about the issues she cared about. She acknowledged the great support she had. She explained in terms that were tied to her own campaign why Barack Obama deserved their support.
She discussed the historic nature of her race and celebrated what she has done.
Wonderful, wonderful speech.
For those who have read for the past 2 years, you will know that I liked Senator Clinton, but did not support her and wished she was not running. But Senator Clinton's performance, particularly in the last 5 months has totally changed my view. She is perhaps the finest working politician today. that does not mean I agree with everything she has done or will do, I am speaking of her skills as a politician.
If the Democratic Party plans to sideline this political skill, along with Bill Clinton, then we deserve to lose.
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