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Presidential Historian Douglas Brinkley on the impact of political conventions and what to expect from Obama’s speech at the Democratic Convention.
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The heavy rains down on President Obama tonight in marks not only his nomination but the end of this election cycles convention so.
How did this year's measure up to previous years.
Let's ask Doug Brinkley presidential historian he joins me now by telephone that it's great to have you here.
I really appreciate.
You you've you've done so much to work.
Covering presence writing about president's.
Are these conventions are they outdated in in a world -- get on the Internet 24 hour news channels.
Is is a listen to a speech for what was it last night with Bill Clinton 48 minutes is it is it old school.
It's pretty much old school but don't -- -- -- just prime time television not a great ad buy time.
Albeit keep get an unstructured -- stage meeting unlike the debates whether you're mayor Schmidt from New York.
Barack Obama you can kind of say what you want -- stated bring your vision for the country.
But we really tend to watch the more as television critics -- Both deliver the goods beat Chua at the funniest line right on the camera -- for body language so I think they've lost some of the relevant gave up.
Mitt Romney -- -- -- going to be still about I don't by the time the democratic nomination process over.
Well what distinguishes this cycle for many other particularly the conventions.
Republican.
And the democratic.
Well what's interesting I think Barack Obama tonight has to be a little bit like Franklin Roosevelt in 1936.
-- -- GR a man and in his first term.
Yet that you DO and tried to do a lot of things but the economy was still stagnant.
-- at this daily need more try and you heard last night Bill Clinton saying that about Barack Obama this time.
-- borrower are the proud that I'd be looking at the 1936.
FDR.
I'm a -- for Mitt Romney I think -- would stay on an opportunity which is why just start helping explained who we did.
He's never have been hit number one autobiography of Mitt Romney.
And he's been around politics but while but there was some balked at people -- -- was personality.
So that's what the convention really Serbs it was -- introduce them.
You know Ronald Reagan was at a presence.
At the Republican Convention even though we wasn't there.
Is Bill Clinton starting to be that seniors status politician who has the kind of grab a tots of of -- Ronald Reagan for the Democrats.
Patrick Harris in question because you know what the group of people called Reagan Democrats.
And they really are -- -- White middle class.
-- what now male voters that's Ronald Reagan attracted to the Republican Party.
-- that's distinct group that Bill Clinton's going after I mean he's trying to get these.
Independent.
Australia's -- -- many of these -- Reagan Democrats were trapped -- -- might work but might the Columbus.
In groups like Babs -- don't abandon the Democratic Party in.
Bill Clinton's trying to bring them back combat the issues that we care more about the middle class though it's still going after the bad stuff.
-- persuade voters.
You know Ronald Reagan spoke on behalf of bush -- at their convention convention trying to transfer his popularity essentially to bush.
To really work very well do you think that Clinton can transfer his popularity.
To Obama.
I don't really think though -- -- they have done -- who raised the bar quite high cost by our -- -- Gave Beijing -- of the speech.
I think -- for book by President Obama of all last night and today I would be really working on the speed cheap and harder you don't want to.
How about -- you know about sort of -- -- -- -- drastic just chill while the momentum that Bill Clinton just provided you let.
While he did have some big now but we're gonna -- -- look at the facts so on that speech a little later in the show but.
I didn't want to ask you this what is the one thing that you think President Obama needs to achieve tonight.
Except it's a dual Tom wolf you have to remind deeply commander in chief meet talk about the armed forces there.
I wrapped in Afghanistan -- she -- it.
And then also maybe be a little bit like Ronald Reagan in -- don't just talk about the middle class that -- geological terms but.
-- -- example of somebody living in Toledo work.
Columbus, Ohio.
And yet.
DO little bit more the minister little more -- -- they're cute and inject some passion not.
He's got an audience now in Charlotte I was there last night on the war once -- what -- They were getting electrified but does it doesn't wanna be the guy who that media the next date is for the web like -- bank belt.
I'm -- that believes he's got oppose them red meat to the crowd and not.
The -- -- just mentioning you know particularly they've been GM bailout.
Army and in Mitt Romney suggesting that Detroit died that might be enough to get back trying to -- get.
-- -- Well -- their their probably ready to cheer would be my guess all those Democrats in the same room Doug thanks for coming on tonight appreciate your time.
