Logic puzzle: at the Democratic convention next month, Barack Obama's choice for vice-president will speak, we're told, on Monday and Wednesday. According to CNN this morning, quoting Democratic party sources, Hillary Clinton will deliver her keynote speech on Tuesday night. And what might we deduce from this? Well, even the campaigning group VoteBoth, which was calling for Clinton to be on the ticket, takes it as final, conclusive proof that Obama will be making a different choice of running-mate: today it sent out this email to supporters, announcing that it was winding up its activities.
The Tuesday night slot comes laden with symbolism, as TPM Election Central points out: the date will be the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing the right of women to vote; all the other female Democratic senators will join Clinton on stage. It's also the spot in the convention schedule in which, in 2004, a relatively unknown senator from Illinois made quite an impression.
