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Canada’s magazine

Previewing Obama’s speech

Obama’s top campaign strategist, David Axelrod, told Politico that Obama’s speech tonight would draw inspiration from 3 historical convention speeches: John F. Kennedy in 1960, Ronald Reagan in 1980, and Bill Clinton in 1992. I’ve dug up text and video of those speeches below, and some snippets that seem to relate to Obama’s campaign themes. Note that JFK also moved his speech outdoors.

Joe Biden: I’m not Darth Vader

The introductions of Joe Biden and his speech itself focused a lot on his biography — growing up in working class Pennsylvania (though, he said in the bio video, his neighbours considered themselves “middle class,”) losing his wife and son in a car accident shortly after being elected to Congress and being sworn in at his other injured son’s hospital bedside (the same son, Beau, who is now attorney general of Delaware and is soon deploying to Iraq with the Delaware National Guard”), and his ability to pick up and go on. There was also emphasis on his role in writing the Violence Against Women Act.

Celebrating the Clinton legacy

As speechmaking goes, the Democratic convention in Denver is about to scale new heights. Teddy Kennedy and Michelle Obama on Monday delivered what all observers qualify as poignant and inspirational addresses. Last night, Hillary Clinton clearly delivered a speech of presidential caliber. Not to be outdone, we can expect former President Bill Clinton to be at the top of his game. Clinton arguably the best speaker in American politics largely due to his conversational style and pedagogical skills will be delivering a speech that will make the case for Obama against McCain and present the arguments contrasting the economic policies of the Democrats and the Republicans. Senator Joe Biden, the presumptive vice-presidential nominee will complete the evening and in all likelihood will convince the delegates that he is indeed a solid choice.