DENVER – Barack Obama’s campaign dismissed concerns about the impact of die-hard supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton on the choreographed show of unity Democrats were opening Monday at their nominating convention.
Opening night at the Pepsi Center, the main venue for the four-day Democratic National Convention, aimed to tell the Illinois senator’s personal story to the millions of voters nationwide who will begin tuning in to the presidential campaign. Obama’s wife, Michelle, was the evening’s keynote speaker.
An emotional highlight was expected to come with a video tribute to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. The liberal stalwart was diagnosed in May with a malignant brain tumor and has had surgery and a six-week course of chemotherapy and radiation.
Behind the scenes, however, polls showing significant Clinton support still being denied to Obama and pro-Clinton demonstrations at offsite venues were creating a different kind of anticipation. Clinton has backed Obama and was scheduled to speak Tuesday night.
“There are a lot of delegates here who had passionate choices in an extended primary season,” Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs told “Today” on NBC. “We feel confidant that if we can demonstrate a record of change, a record of vision … a team of Barack Obama and Joe Biden can convince Democrats, Republicans and independents to support a ticket of change in November.”
Republican candidate John McCain tried to widen any schism remaining between primary-season rivals with a TV ad featuring a Clinton supporter who now backs McCain over Obama.
“She had the experience and judgment to be president,” says Debra Bartoshevich, identified by the McCain campaign as a former Clinton delegate. Of McCain, she says: “I respect his maverick and independent streak, and now he’s the one with the experience and judgment. A lot of Democrats will vote McCain. It’s OK, really!”
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