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The stars came out at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Jimmy Smits, Christie Brinkley, Tommy Lee Jones, and dozens of other lesser lights toasted Al Gore and partied till dawn. But for every rising star making the scene over L.A., there was a falling star. Here are some of the bright lights and dim bulbs of Al Gore's big week in La-La Land:
WINNERS Bill Clinton. The good news for Dems is that the President delivered an inspired speech on Aug. 14 that mixed humor with self-promotion. The bad news is that it increased the pressure on Gore to stand and deliver. The good news for Clinton is that his approval ratings steadily increased during the week. The bad news for Gore is that he lost ground to Bush at the same time. What's wrong with Al? The Shadow knows.
Thumbs-up to the Liebermans for his compelling speech and her touching introduction.
The Liebermans. To borrow a line from Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman, Al Gore is "the luckiest man in the world" for having picked the Connecticut senator as his running mate. Lieberman made a stellar first impression on American voters on Aug. 16. His acceptance speech mixed a compelling personal story with some political barbs, told with style, grace, and wit. And wife Hadassah, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, made a mark on anyone watching her loving introduction of "my Joey."
Thumbs-up to the Liebermans for his compelling speech and her touching introduction.
Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan. This moderate Democrat, locked in a tight Senate race against GOP incumbent John Ashcroft, made a strong impression on party insiders as he made the rounds during convention week. He was a standout during a candidate dog-and-pony show sponsored by the centrist New Democratic Network. One upbeat Democratic consultant called him "the Senate's next Joe Lieberman." Another rising star: Florida House candidate Elaine Bloom, who could well knock off veteran Republican Representative Clay Shaw in a heavily Jewish district.
Jesse Jackson. Always a rousing orator, the former Presidential candidate delivered perhaps the most effective speech of the convention, explaining to the party's liberal base why they "get more with Gore." His clever putdowns of "Papa Bush" and "Baby Bush" infuriated the Bush high command but delighted Democratic partisans. No other liberal speaker came close to matching the Rev, who has emerged as the King of the Left.
House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt. It may have been Al Gore's convention, but many delegates seemed more charged up about their House prospects than their White House hopes. "Speaker Gephardt" signs were everywhere -- and the St. Louis congressman worked tirelessly to raise money and raise the spirits of Dem partisans. Without a doubt, Gephardt has grown into a poised and skillful leader in the 12 years since his disastrous 1988 Presidential race.
LOSERS.
Teddy on "Liberal Night": Kennedy reminded swing voters why they voted Republican before Clinton
Teddy Kennedy. The liberal legend gave one of the worst speeches of his career on "Liberal Night," Aug. 15. Even worse for Democrats, it was in prime time. The day after Kennedy's speech, Gore actually dropped in daily tracking polls. If Team Gore had been smart, they would have limited Teddy's exposure to a brief introduction of his beloved niece, Caroline. Instead, the Massachusetts senator seems to have reminded many swing voters why they had consistently voted Republican until Bill Clinton came along.
Ralph Nader. The Green Party gadfly seems to have peaked in Campaign 2000. During the convention week, his support in the Voter.com/Battleground Poll slipped from 5% to 3% as the liberal base of the Democratic Party rallied around Gore. Even worse for the longtime consumer crusader, he's getting sued for $5 million by MasterCard for ripping off the company's "Priceless" ad campaign. The tables have turned on the litigious liberal.
Evan Bayh. He's no Oprah, that's for sure. The telegenic Indiana senator, billed as a Democratic star of the future, was stiff and stilted as emcee of the convention's first "real people" chat act. Four years ago, Bayh bored delegates with an ineffective keynote address. What will he do for an encore in 2004?
The doofus who came up with the idea for the "real people" routine. Can you say "exploitation"? Convention planners paraded a series of victims to the convention podium in prime time, each interviewed by Democratic elected officials who were instructed to appear empathetic. Instead, they looked like uncomfortable robots. The maudlin stories served only to make viewers squirm. Was it mere coincidence that Jerry Springer was stalking the convention floor?
Los Angeles. Tinseltown got a big black eye. Maybe it was from a whack in the head from the LAPD. L.A.'s finest did their best to present the city as a police state filled with black-shirted cops in riot gear. Overall, it was the worst organized convention in modern times, filled with logistical snafus and ill-informed hired hands. For most of the week, the police force was surly toward delegates and visitors. Then, in a bizarre change of attitude, on Aug. 16 the cops started smiling and telling conventioneers to "have a nice day." After a picture-perfect convention in Philadelphia, the L.A. gathering was a real downer. On the whole, we'd rather be in Philadelphia.
Dunham is White House correspondent for Business Week Edited by Douglas Harbrecht
Copyright 2000, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
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