Ground Game

Here at Invesco Field, the reaction to Barack Obama's presidential nomination acceptance speech was positive but not overwhelming. "Too stumpy," was the reaction from several in attendance, including supporters and the media. The "stumpy" tag is a reference to Obama's stump speech that he gives at regular campaign stops.

However, several moments generated not just loud applause but visible emotional reactions from those around me in the stands. The moments that stood out: Obama's line about McCain being willing to chase Osama bin Laden "to the gates of hell," but being unwilling to "chase him to the cave," where he hides. The crowd also took particular fondness near the end of Obama's speech when he made a direct challenge to McCain to debate the issues.

Overall, I thought it was a very good speech, though not his best rhetorically. But that's the trade off, because Obama clearly chose to aim more for substance than lofty words in his address. It's also a great barometer of just how high the expectations are now for when Obama speaks. His speech was better than any at the convention, with the exception of maybe Bill Clinton's. But when Obama is now considered the best speaker in American politics, anything less than sublime perfection will be seen as simply adequate. But for those who haven't heard him speak much, I'm guessing the speech will have a deep resonance.