Democratic convention’s best, worst moments so far

DENVER — It’s politics, and that means there are high points and low points, winners and losers. Here are some memorable moments so far from the historic Democratic National Convention:

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KEITH BEDFORD/Bloomberg News

Bill Clinton impressed convention followers with this quote: ‘People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.’

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WINNERS:

Biggest win by a loser: Hillary Clinton endeared herself to delegates with her no-holds-barred endorsement of the man who denied her the presidential nomination she so coveted. Ditto for Bill Clinton, who again showed why he’s at or near the top of the all-time great political speech makers. (Nice touch at the convention was the Hillary video that identified the ex-president only as “Hillary’s husband”).

Surprise star: He’s the little-known governor of a little-known state, but Montana’s Brian Schweitzer was a surprise hit with his remarks Tuesday night. Though sandwiched between Mark Warner’s keynote speech and Hillary Clinton’s memorable appearance, Schweitzer — in blue jeans, blazer and bolo tie — delighted delegates with his folksy delivery and snappy zingers, such as: “We simply can’t drill our way to energy independence, even if you drilled in all of John McCain’s backyards, including the ones he can’t remember.” The next morning on MSNBC, Schweitzer offered his position on gun control: “You control yours. I’ll control mine.”

Ex-presidents: Big Wednesday night for Bill Clinton. Nice recognition on Monday of Jimmy Carter (though he did not speak). And — in the long-gone-but-not-forgotten category — a nice video Thursday marking the late Lyndon Johnson’s 100th birthday.

Now folks know who he is: Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas got a substantial name-ID bump when he became one of four finalists for the Democrats’ vice presidential nomination. Didn’t happen (partly, he thinks, because the Edwards name took a big hit when ex-Sen. John Edwards confirmed his infidelity) but the Waco Democrat impressed enough folks to move immediately to the list of potential Obama Cabinet members.

Early loyalty rewarded: Rep. Robert Wexler of Florida took a big risk when he became an early Obama backer in a South Florida district where Hillary Clinton was the clear favorite. The Delray Beach Democrat was rewarded with a prime-time speech at the convention. He also comes away with Obama’s ear on the Middle East, an area of crucial interest in Wexler’s district.

Fewest words, most impact: Bill Clinton’s “People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.”

LOSERS:

Toughest assignment: Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, now a Senate candidate, got the coveted keynote speech slot. The bad news: Same night that Hillary Clinton lit the joint up with her speech. Not a bad effort by Warner, but not destined for Speechifying Hall of Fame. And during a week when Dems worked to portray Republicans as purveyors of evil, Warner offered this bipartisan note: “I know we’re at the Democratic convention, but if an idea works it really doesn’t matter if it has an R or a D next to it.”

Not the speeches they hoped to give: Several Dems who viewed themselves as vice presidential material were relegated to speaking slots when, to be kind, not everybody in the hall was paying rapt attention. On Wednesday night, three potential vice presidential candidates — Sens. Evan Bayh of Indiana and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and Texan Edwards — got to make brief podium appearances.

Even worse, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, an unsuccessful presidential candidate and rumored veep possibility, got bumped Wednesday night when the program ran a bit long and threatened to cut into vice presidential nominee Joe Biden’s time slot. Richardson was rescheduled for Thursday night. And from the How Soon They Forget Department, Richardson had trouble getting on to the convention floor Tuesday night before Hillary Clinton’s speech. He was held up at an entry until somebody finally recognized him. Maybe it’s the beard he cultivated after his presidential campaign flamed out.

Lobbyists: Though not invisible, they had to ply their trade more quietly as Democrats nominated a man who likes to talk about lobby evil. Lobbyist Heather Podesta, a Democrat, got the message. She sported a scarlet “L” patch during a brunch hosted by her firm. “This ‘L’ is a scarlet letter for lobbyists,” she said.

Invesco Field: Predictably, Republicans made fun of the grand stage the Democrats built for Obama’s Thursday night speech. The McCain campaign offered a press release, complete with photos of folks in togas, that branded the stage as “The Temple of Obama” and “The Barackopolis.” “At the Temple of Obama, reporters are expected to observe a level of decency and decorum demanded by the import of the moment and the presence of The One (Obama). No ‘Animal House’ behavior permitted. Specifically, no ‘Toga’ chants,’” said the release.

Common mistake, new voice: Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of Texas, at an event at Denver’s Hard Rock Cafe, got tangled up in the Barack Obama/Osama bin Laden trap. Republican John McCain, Wilson said, would use war as a primary foreign policy tool. “We should be guided and led by Osama bin Laden, I mean by Osama and Biden,” Wilson said, moving quickly to a mid-quote correction. “We need sense and not nonsense, as that last statement was.”

Smallest demonstration group: A couple of guys from Rolla, Mo., proudly held a “Rednecks for Obama” sign near the convention hall. Pretty big group? Not yet. “We’re not a group or anything,” one of them said. “Just two of us.”

Biggest Loser: The guy who posted this on Craigslist. “Are you in need of an extra kidney? Know of someone who needs one? I have 2 good kidneys which is a little excessive. I’ll give you one of them for two tickets to (Obama’s) speech. I live in Denver and tried to get tickets the minute they were announced. Somehow the first-come-first-serve registration did not work since I was put on the wait list. So, I need two tickets for me and my girlfriend. I have an extra kidney. You take said organ, I take 2 tickets for this historic speech.”

— Cox Newspapers reporters Bob Dart, Scott Shepard and W. Gardner Selby contributed to this report.