The Clintons will come through because this is the convention to nominate Obama, and from here on, the Clintons no longer gain anything politically in undermining Obama.
NYT: “The Clintons love this country and they love the Democratic Party,” Mr. Obama said. “They are going to be active parts of our campaign for the remaining 70 days.”
As he made his slow march to the Democratic convention in Denver, meeting voters at stops in Iowa, Missouri and Montana, Mr. Obama took questions for about 20 minutes. It was the first time he talked to reporters in a formal setting in nearly two weeks.
Mr. Obama played down worries being aired by some Democrats – and fueled by the Republican campaign of Senator John McCain – that stalwart admirers of Mrs. Clinton would not support his candidacy in November. He said that Senator Clinton and former President Bill Clinton “could not be more clear about their support for my candidacy.”
Yet he conceded that some political patchwork was needed – and the burden was on him.
“There are going to be some of Senator Clinton’s supporters who we’re going to have to work hard to persuade to come on board – that’s not surprising,” Mr. Obama said. “But if you take a look this week, I am absolutely convinced that both Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton understand the stakes.”
On Bill Clinton's
dismay at giving a speech on national security and not the economy (Obama's giving that speech):
NYT: Mr. Obama sought to quell that dispute.
“I said as much to him three or four days ago. I said, ‘Mr. President, you can say whatever you like,’ ” Mr. Obama said. “Bill Clinton is a unique figure in our politics. This is the only person, the only Democrat, who has been re-elected since F.D.R. And he is somebody who is equally adept at talking about domestic issues and foreign policy issues.
