Reply #9: Now it's the in between time

[TayTay]

It's the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interregnum">interregnum when the winner takes a breather and the Democratic Party begins to reformulate around that winner. People will be jockeying for position and for power and influence in this new configuration of the Democratic Party.

This is going to be, in a way, as difficult as any other period we have been through. There will be a lot of people claiming their share of the credit for Sen. Obama's victory. One tried and true and ugly way to do this is to give out interviews that demean the work of others. It happens. It is an ugly side of politics and it is inevitable.

In the case of Sen. Kerry, it also won't work. The Obama campaign stone-cold knows what a great supporter John Kerry has been. He has done what the Obama folks asked him to do, period. He did so without making himself the star attraction. Every Obama appearance Sen. Kerry made was just that, an appearance to promote Barack Obama, not John Kerry. There are people who will try to demean and insult Sen. Kerry in the weeks to come and downplay his role in the Obama campaign. It won't work. Period. The Obama people know who their die-hard friends were, who supported them through thick and thin and who showed up when asked, no matter what the task was.

I know we all needed thick skin to get through some of the tirades of the past few years. We need it again for a little while yet. This period of reforming the Democratic Party structure is going to be messy. But I assure you, the Obama people are well aware of what Sen. Kerry has done for them. Nothing, no leaks to friendly reporters by those just jumping on the bandwagon or jealous people or those with scores to settle, will change this. Take that to the bank and be happy.