Reply #23: I did say that I doubted that would be the keynote

[karynnj]

but I do think they are among the party elders - just as Kerry gave Gore and Carter speeches. In fact, Kerry was the first to give Carter a speech since he lost.

I do think if you look back to Kerry's and Kennedy's endorsement speeches you may see why I mentioned them. Unlike the Clinton speeches at both the Gore and Kerry conventions, the endorsement was all about Obama - instead of over half about the speaker. They made very compelling cases.

The other thing is that Kerry is one of these most respected foreign policy leaders in the Democratic party. Even before 2004, he was one of the people who always were on talk shows representing the party - just as Biden was. (Compared to Biden, Kerry is by far the more eloquent and better speech giver - and I think especially after hearing Obama last week, that he is closer to Kerry's positions than Biden's.)