Missouri Democrats have gathered in Denver for the Democratic National Convention , anxious to see their presidential candidate shore up support within the party so he can take on Republicans this fall.
Kansas City Star political reporter Steve Kraske flatly states what faces Barack Obama this week, "He needs a bump out of this convention and he needs it in a very bad way."
The luster of the Obama presidential campaign has dulled a bit and fallout from Hillary Clinton supporters lingers.
That’s not a good combination says St. Louis Post-Dispatch political reporter Jo Mannies, "I think it’s the kind of drama he really doesn’t need."
Both Mannies and Kraske question the value of conventions these days. Kraske says some voters first tune in to the race during the conventions. Mannies calls them week-long infomercials. Kraske says they produce little news, though they might provide some voters with their first real view of the candidates.
Missouri Democrats reflect how close the Obama-Clinton race was. Obama barely won the state and the delegates split 36-36 between Obama and Clinton. Nearly all the super delegates have gone to Obama.
You can listen to the entire interview with Kraske and Mannies on this week’s Campaign Watch.