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August 26th, 2008 at 11:44 pm

Video & Photos: Hillary Clinton Speech Democratic National Convention 2008 8-26-08

Hillary Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 26, 2008

Senator Hillary Clinton delivered a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008 (DNC) on August 26, 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Declaring “No way, no how, no McCain,” Hillary Clinton appealed for party unity and support of the Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama.

With her husband looking on tenderly and her supporters watching with tears in their eyes, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton deferred her own dreams on Tuesday night and delivered an emphatic plea at the Democratic National Convention to unite behind her rival, Senator Barack Obama, no matter what ill will lingers.

Hillary Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 26, 2008

Mrs. Clinton, who was once once so certain that she would win the Democratic nomination this year, also took steps on Tuesday — deliberate steps, aides said — to keep the door open to a future bid for the presidency. She rallied supporters in her speech, and, at an earlier event with 3,000 women, described her passion about her own campaign. And her aides limited input on the speech from Obama advisers, while seeking advice from her former strategist, Mark Penn, a loathed figure in the Obama camp.

Hillary Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 26, 2008

But the main task for Mrs. Clinton at the convention — reaffirming her support for Mr. Obama in soaring and unconditional language — dominated her 23-minute speech, and she betrayed none of the anger and disappointment that she still feels and that, friends say, has especially haunted her husband.

Declaring herself to be “a proud supporter of Barack Obama,” Mrs. Clinton urged Democrats to put aside their personal loyalty to her and unite behind Mr. Obama or risk continuing Bush administration policies under the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator John McCain.

Hillary Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 26, 2008

“Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose,” Mrs. Clinton said. “And you haven’t worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership.

“No way, no how, no McCain,” she added.

With the television cameras trained tightly on Mrs. Clinton on stage and former President Bill Clinton in the V.I.P. seats, the couple emanated enthusiasm and emotion. Mrs. Clinton smiled broadly at times and punched the air with ferocity during the tough talk against Republicans, while Mr. Clinton lovingly bit his lower lip with a near-chew. To see them on a split screen, it would be easy to assume that the Clintons were the ones who won the Democratic nomination. And yet, reality intrudes: many of her top fundraisers said this week that they are still refusing to work for Mr. Obama and angered by their treatment at the convention.

Hillary Clinton with daughter Chelsea Clinton before her speech at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 26, 2008

Hillary Clinton with daughter, Chelsea Clinton

For their part, Obama advisers were full of expectations. Several of them repeated how “gracious” Mrs. Clinton has been this week. Privately, though, aides said they and Mr. Obama have been eager to move on from Mrs. Clinton’s star turn at the convention moment, which has been a source of melodrama for Democrats who have not entirely healed from the pair’s bruising primary. send out excerpts to the media.

Barack Obama watches via television as Hillary Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention 2008, August 26, 2008

Barack Obama watching Hillary Clinton DNC speech on television in Billings, MT

Among them are the Clintons themselves: While Mrs. Clinton is in the midst of a “catharsis,” friends say, former President Bill Clinton remains angrier than people realize about the Obama campaign’s portrayal of her as deceitful and of his administration as middling and his political tactics as, at times, racially charged. Friends have been urging Mr. Clinton — who speaks on Wednesday night — to move on, and counseling the couple to focus their energy and emotions on the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain.

“President Clinton and Senator Obama don’t have to text each other saying BFFs,” said Paul Begala, a friend of the Clintons and former adviser to Mr. Clinton, using shorthand for “best friends forever.” “They just have to fight McCain.”

Source: Clinton Delivers Emphatic Plea for Unity