On Convention Day Two, Hillary Did What She Must With Gusto, Grit and Grace

Sen. Hillary Clinton did what she must in her soaring speech on Day Two of the '08 Democratic Convention in Denver, and she did it with gusto, grit and considerable grace.

In short, I was fully convinced that she meant it when she heartily endorsed Barack Obama over John McCain for President, and forcefully declared "It is time to unite as a single party with a single purpose."

But let's be honest, too. Here's what Hillary Clinton didn't say:

• She never said that Obama is qualified to be President, as did most other speakers on Day Two;

• She never referred to to him as President Obama, as did most other speakers on Day Two;

• She never expressed admiration for Obama or spoke fondly of him, as did most other speakers on Day Two;

• Her effusive personal praise for Joe Biden and (even John McCain) easily surpassed that for Barack Obama.

• All of her video, and much of her speech, was devoted to her life, her accomplishments, and her goals, and not to the Obama/Biden ticket.

But that's OK. She did more than enough, and far more than the minimum, to support Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, and to discourage her supporters from voting for Republican John McCain.

I was sold on Hillary Clinton's sincere desire to put the Democratic ticket in the White House, though, when she half-scolded, "Were you in this campaign just for me?"

So Hillary Clinton did more than she had to, and she did it quite well. Truthfully, Barack Obama can't ask for more than that from Hillary Clinton. The ball is in his court now to win this election.

I watched 31 speeches today, so will retire soon for the evening. Tomorrow, look here for highlights and important moments from four other top-notch speeches today by:

• Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania
• Former Gov., now '08 Senate candidate, Mark Warner of Virginia
• Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, and
• Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana.

And look here soon for my dissection of the abysmally brain-dead Convention coverage by MSNBC, CNN and FoxNews.

(Photo taken on August 26, 2008: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)