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Waiting for the boy from hope

James Forsyth

Wednesday, 27th August 2008

Bill Clinton’s speech is going to be the dramatic focal point of the night. Whether it is an emotional rapprochement with Obama, a lukewarm endorsement or a reflection on the prosperity of the Clinton years it will be news.

The nervousness among Democrats here in Denver about the speech will only have been increased by the news that Bill told a group of donors that “Last night after she spoke, anyone who helped her were glad they did. And some were sad they didn’t.” If Bill’s evident regret that the Democrats didn’t pick his wife seeps into his speech tonight then the press will have a field day and another day of the Democratic convention will have been overshadowed by the Clinton drama.

Bill’s speech tonight is, in a way, more important to his standing among Democrats than Hillary’s was last night. His antics during the primary really hurt his reputation—I’ll never forget the crowd at the Obama victory rally in South Carolina passionately booing when his face appeared on the video screen—and he needs to mend these fences. But he clearly feels he is the wronged party, so tonight could get very interesting.