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FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
If ever there was a chance for a resounding victory, the Democrats certainly have it. Look anywhere… Americans are fed up. Fed up with war, illegal immigration, a lack of affordable health care, rising inflation, unemployment, etc. They can't stand President Bush. The Republican nominee is a Bush clone – 26 years in the Senate, John McCain has voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time.
But the polls all suggest this is going to be close. Why? Is it that Obama's a comparative unknown? You wouldn't think so after the long Democratic primary battle. Is it because he's black? Maybe. Whatever the reasons, the Democrats are a long way from winning the White House in an election that should be a slam dunk for them.
All eyes will be on the Democratic Convention for the next few days to see if the party can right itself and head into the campaign stretch that matters with some momentum. There is the "Clinton" factor, of course… but you would think even her most ardent supporters would opt for one of their own. In the end, maybe they will. But we don't know that yet.
It's worth noting that no Democrat has ever come out of a fractured convention to win the presidency. So the pressure is definitely on. After the conventions, opinions begin to solidify and choices made are hard to undo the closer we get to November.
Here’s my question to you: What will constitute a successful convention for the Democrats?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Jan from New York writes:
One where the Clintons ride off into the sunset never to appear again on the Democratic stage. One where Hillary and her idiotic supporters admit she ran a very bad campaign and they finally take responsibility for their own actions and performance. I doubt I will see this in my lifetime.
Susan from New York writes:
They need a clear message that even those who are traditionally against Democrats can understand. A message that states how to fix the economy and how to chart our country's future free of special interest groups and Middle Eastern insanity because of our thirst for oil.
Gord from Boston writes:
A successful convention will be if the voting public doesn't notice that in a year so favorable to the Democratic Party that they could have nominated a ham sandwich, they actually did.
Melissa from Pennsylvania writes:
I think a successful convention is one that leaves supporters of Hillary Clinton at ease. We need to know that we can put our trust in Obama, as we have in her. The race is closer now than anyone thought it would be. In order to beat McCain, he needs us. In order to get our trust, we need to see more of what he's about.
Gerald writes:
A successful convention would be to see the Clintons take a back seat and quit acting like spoiled royalty. I supported Bill Clinton and he was one of the truly great presidents in my life. I respect Senator Clinton but the people spoke and she has to take it like a lady.
John writes:
Hearing the words "Bush recession" and "Bush lied us into a war" repeated every day of the convention. Good speeches by Bill, Hillary, and Al Gore would also help.
Greg from Pennsylvania writes:
If the power went out for a week in Denver, that would be fantastic!