Obama's biggest challenge: Trying to repeat '04 speech success

DENVER - Before Barack Obama arrived at the Democratic National Convention four years ago, he was a relatively unknown Illinois state senator poised to give the keynote speech.

He talked about his family's unique heritage and the "audacity of hope" for a better tomorrow:

"Hope in the face of difficulty, hope in the face of uncertainty, the audacity of hope: In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of this nation, a belief in things not seen, a belief that there are better days ahead," he bellowed before a sea of onlookers in Boston.

From that moment on, Obama's name was perched on the tips of the political world's tongues.

Now, four years later, Obama returns to the Democratic National Convention, set to accept the nomination for president tonight in a spotlight speech before a massive crowd at Invesco Field.

The key question is whether the Chicago Democrat can deliver the same "wow" factor he did in Boston.

Some political experts suggest Obama not try to top the 2004 speech because it may well be impossible.

Instead, Michael Cheney, a senior fellow at the University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs, said several key elements are needed in order to consider his address a success.

First, and early in the speech, Obama has to do the obvious - accept the presidential nomination. Then, like in 2004, Obama must generate a positive response from the audience, Cheney said.

But Cheney argues Obama will need to reverse course from the all-appealing Boston 2004 speech and reveal a partisan side.

"It has to talk about the Democratic tradition, what he brings to it and how his campaign will move forward from the previous administration," he said.

Other political experts disagree, saying Obama needs to use the speech to shore up swing voters and the undecided, not appeal to the Democratic base.

"This is the one time that (voters) get a real look at these guys, unmediated, speaking at some length, on a variety of subjects," said David Frum, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. "What he now needs to do is say, 'You can trust me with your national security, trust me with your economy, I'm not going to tax you to death and ... I am not a naive person when it comes to foreign policy.'"

Frum argues Obama's 2004 speech was so well received because so little was expected at the time. And if the pending nominee is looking for what not to do, Frum said, Obama need look no further then John Kerry's 2004 acceptance speech which opened with the Massachusetts senator's saying: 'I'm John Kerry, and I'm reporting for duty.'

"It was just one of those moments that completely rings false," Frum said. "It really hurt him - it was both phony and boring."