Bill’s speech aims to quell dissent
This is according to the ex-president’s former press secretary Joe Lockhart.
He promised Mr Clinton will follow his wife Hillary’s speech last night with an appeal for loyal backers to rally around Obama in November.
Mr Lockhart said animosity between the Clinton and Obama factions outside the convention centre did not reflect Mr Clinton’s personal feelings.
“I have a lot of experience of people talking about what Bill Clinton thinks and most of these people have no idea what Bill Clinton thinks.
“Watch what he will say and you will see he is going to come out and make a compelling case for what the choice is between now and election day.
“You will have a great sense tonight about where he stands and what his intentions are,” he said.
Despite the best press relations’ efforts the rivalry served to benefit those focused on distracting from the day’s official theme, which was failures in George W Bush’s legacy.
In the afternoon Ms Clinton’s supporters prepared for her speech with a demonstration in downtown Denver.
Here they competed for space alongside pro-life protesters, pro-choice campaigners, anti-war groups, environmental activists and a feminist rally.
While protesters have been corralled away from the main areas of activity, on Monday there was a late- night skirmish involving riot police. A large protest has been planned for later today to disrupt proceedings.
Yesterday’s gathering of the Clinton group was merely a show of support.
It took place before Clinton joined the Democratic party’s two other most prominent women, Nancy Pelosi and Obama’s wife Michelle, at a charity event organised by the feminist lobby group Emily’s List.
Yesterday morning Emily’s List gave the Obama campaign its best news of the week with a poll showing he had extended his lead among women despite tensions with Clintons.
The poll showed he now holds a 12% lead over McCain among women.
Ellen Malcolm, president of Emily’s List, said he is doing “extremely well” among female voters.
However, separate figures earlier this month suggested 27% of the 18 million people who voted for Clinton in the primaries would not back Obama.
And yesterday the antics of this minority handed ammunition to Republicans.
On Monday night the Republicans picked up the tab at a function in Denver’s main shopping district for 150 Clinton supporters.
The party also aired a revised version of the notorious “3AM” commercial produced by the Clinton campaign during the primaries. The advert questioned Obama’s judgment in an international crisis.
McCain’s team re-edited it with a quote made by Clinton during her battle with Obama.
“I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House. And, Senator Obama has a speech he gave in 2002,” she said.
On Monday the more obedient forces in the Clinton camp allied themselves with Obama’s team to sign up the 300 signatories needed to have her name included on today’s roll call for nominations.
This was part of the deal worked out between both groups.
However, after early voters register support for Clinton she will then interrupt proceedings to call for a unanimous vote for Obama.
Mr Lockhart said the public demonstrations by Clinton supporters represented only a minority of those who voted for her in the primaries.
“Personally I supported Hillary Clinton in the primaries and I am as enthusiastic about Barack Obama as anybody in this city this week,” he said.
Last night Ms Clinton was under pressure to address the issue directly before delegates are called to vote for their preferred candidate later today.
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