Obama needs the Clintons’ backing to win the presidency

Aug 30, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Guyanese I spoke with in NY had full praise for former U.S President Bill Clinton for what they unanimously describe as an outstanding speech on Wednesday night endorsing Senator Barack Obama in his run for the Presidency of the U.S.

The speech was as great as — if not better than— the one delivered by his wife Hillary the night before, appealing to voters to put aside their differences with Obama and vote for him and his running mate Joe Biden.

Hillary herself received widespread praises for her terrific speech from Guyanese I interviewed.
Obama himself applauded both speeches, saying Hillary’s was among the best he had heard, and describing Bill’s speech as “great, great, great.”

Both Clintons stole the show on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Denver, where the Democrats held their national convention to officially nominate a candidate to take on the Republican John McCain on November 4 for the Presidency to govern the nation over the next four years.

Obama also delivered a terrific speech on Thursday night, hoping to win over voters unsure of his ability to be President.

He touched a lot of emotions and received fulsome praises from Guyanese I spoke with. But I believe he made some errors, which the Republicans will pick up on and go after him.

Bill Clinton was given an enthusiastic welcome by convention delegates, with a standing ovation and applause that lasted for several minutes.

There was even a longer applause when he finished his speech. Several times during his speech, delegates stood up and cheered Bill, including Michelle Obama – an indication of his popularity among Democrats. Bill did everything he could to help Obama to win over doubtful voters.

He set the right tone in opening his remarks at the convention. He said he was “honoured” to be there to support Obama.

He also drove home the point that Obama strategists wanted to hear, that their man is ready to lead the most powerful nation on the planet.

Bill said: “Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. He is ready to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States”.

Those words were necessary because the Clintons had said during the primary campaign that Obama lacked the qualification to be President.

The Republicans have been using those words in television ads against Obama with good dividends, because McCain, who was trailing in the polls, is now even with Obama.

Bill said he was proud of his wife, who had battled Obama for the Democratic nomination, but that her supporters should now back Obama.

“Last night, Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she is going to do everything she can to elect Obama. That makes two of us.

Actually, that makes 18 million of us, because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Obama in November.”

Clinton and Obama won an almost equal number of votes, but he won more delegates to the convention to get the nomination.

It is hoped that Clinton’s speech will erase grudges the Obama and Clinton camps have of each other.
It is also hoped that Obama will say the right things to win converts. It is still too early to tell whether undecided voters will gravitate towards Obama.

Although both Clintons turned in stellar performances appealing to their supporters to vote for Obama, many Guyanese and a fifth of the Clintons’ supporters are holding out, and Obama remains in a tight race seeing his lead evaporate over the last month.

With the Clintons’ endorsement, Obama should get a lift in the polls that will be released before weekend, and he should get a further bounce after his speech.

Unless undecided voters break for Obama, he faces an uphill task against a more experienced Republican, for whom voters do not have much reservation in a close election.
Vishnu Bisram