A speech for Clinton, but no script for her backers

DENVER - Hillary Clinton, who fell just short in her drive to become the first female presidential nominee, will nonetheless enjoy a large share of the spotlight here.

On Tuesday night, the Park Ridge native will deliver the Democrats' prime-time address, one that many hope will seal the party as one unified force against Republican John McCain.

On Wednesday, she will see her name placed in nomination. Which will give her pledged delegates, nearly equal to Barack Obama's in number, a chance to raise the roof of the Pepsi Center.

Leaving only this question: Will Clinton's speech and her delegates' celebration serve to bring the party faithful together as one big happy family? Or will they remind a national television audience that 18 million primary voters did not choose Obama and that many still strongly prefer another candidate?

A hint of mystery about this story line's final chapter does not necessarily harm Democrats. They, like Republicans, no longer can count on millions of Americans to tune into an event widely perceived as little more than a tightly scripted four-day infomercial.

"This can help in some ways, by adding a little drama to days that otherwise would not have much drama to them, and it might attract more viewers to watch the convention," said Michael Mezey, a DePaul University political science professor. "Of course, if viewers are attracted, and then there's a catastrophe of some sort, that would not be good news for Obama."

Catastrophe for the Illinois senator, in this case, cannot realistically be expected from the remarks of either Hillary or Bill Clinton, who will speak Wednesday night. Without question, both will be at their self-disciplined, party-unifying best at the podium.

What does Obama stand to gain from Clinton's high profile here? Handing Hillary Clinton a plum speaking role and putting her name in nomination creates a scenario in which she takes center stage, graciously thanks her backers and then releases them to Obama. In effect, she would play the role of magnanimous kingmaker.

"That's the script the Obama people are counting on," said John Jackson, a political scientist at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. "She's likely to play her part. But it's her die-hard supporters on the floor that'll be hard to control. If it all breaks down, then they might as well kiss the election goodbye."

That's possible. Delegate demonstrations are, of course, the one element that party leaders cannot entirely control.

To be sure, it's been a while since anyone's delegates have served up any real surprises - or even excitement - on the convention floor. Back in 1980, delegates for Ted Kennedy went to the convention in New York hoping to stage a coup against Jimmy Carter, but Carter's easy victory on an early rules vote prompted Kennedy to quickly concede. Ronald Reagan and his delegates made attempts in 1968 and 1976 to outflank eventual GOP nominees Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, but even those efforts involved procedural skirmishes - not open roll-call rebellion once the winner became clear.

Matt Flamm, a Palatine attorney who has devoted hundreds of hours to Obama's cause and is attending the convention, doubts that any problems for Obama will erupt this time, either. He said that Clinton's speech, coupled with her name being placed in nomination, will provide a healthy outlet for the New York senator's backers.

"I have no problem with the decision to do this," Flamm said. "They deserve a lot of respect. There's no reason to squelch other people's opinions, and then everyone should feel that they've been treated fairly."

How Clinton delegates react on Wednesday night is one matter; whether they campaign and vote for Obama is another. Flamm and Mezey think ongoing reports that many will vote for Republican John McCain are exaggerated.

The convention, Flamm said, may be a turning point in that regard.

"I think that it's now not Obama vs. Clinton anymore; it's Obama vs. McCain, and they (Clinton voters) are going to get enthusiastic, thinking that, 'He may not be my first choice, but he's a good one.'"

Mezey noted that Clinton supporters simply are much closer to Obama than to McCain on issues and said: "I think that a lot of Clinton activists, including women, are going to move to Obama. I find it hard to believe they're going to vote for McCain."

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