Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses the Democratic National Convention tonight in a role far less substantive than the one for which she fought so long and so hard.
At times like this, it seems, winning truly is the only thing.
And extolling the virtues of Barack Obama, no matter how brave a face the former first lady assumes, surely will sting.
If, in fact, she sings that song.
For no matter how graceful her words tonight, no matter how broad her smile, it remains that the senator and her supporters came to Denver with a chip on their collective shoulder.
That doubtless will become clear tomorrow night – when Sen. Clinton’s name is ceremonially placed in nomination for president, and when the depth of delegate support for her will be heard loud and clear in the convention hall and beyond.
How will Sen. Clinton instruct those supporters tomorrow?
“I will be telling my delegates that I will vote for Barack Obama,” she told reporters yesterday.
“How they vote is a more personal decision. They want to have their chance to vote for me. That is what traditionally happens . . . some people are having to make up their minds because there are arguments pulling them both ways.”
Hardly a ringing endorsement of Sen. Obama – especially as Sen. John McCain was rolling out a campaign urging disaffected Clinton Democrats to vent by switching parties and voting for him.
And who’s to say that a lot of them won’t?
But that’s for the future.
Tonight, the Democrats will turn over their convention to a woman who came closer to the presidency than any New Yorker since Thomas Dewey in 1948.
Hillary Rodham Clinton deserves her moment in the spotlight.
Here’s hoping she enjoys it.