None of the discussion — that I’ve seen — of Ted Kennedy’s endorsement of Barack Obama has mentioned how much of an asset he is as a campaigner. I remember watching footage of Kennedy as the opening act for Kerry at campaign stops and thinking if Kerry loses, it’s not going to be Ted’s fault.
This clip isn’t Kennedy at his absolute best, but I’m sure Hillary Clinton is going to wish she had Ted’s energy, enthusiasm, and charisma on her side:
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He certainly helped out Kerry four years ago. Then again, Maxine Waters is an excellent campaigner who helped muscle Lamont over the hump in CT, and her endorsement of Hillary is being resolutely ignored in the media.
Her MA fundraiser falls on the same day as Ted endorses Obama. Maxine Waters endorses her, and then Edwards drops out, swamping the news with breathless speculation about if/when he will endorse Obama or (much less likely, IMHO) Clinton.
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p>I don’t think it’s really fair to compare the media coverage of Waters’ endorsement to Kennedy’s — she may be a great campaigner, but she just doesn’t have the national profile that Kennedy does. He’s the closest thing to a living legend in politics today.
The endorsement may be great for Obama in the primaries, but will be the opposite of helpful in the general, unless it is somehow completely forgotten.
Rezko goes to prison the same day Kennedy endorses. Mind you, I think a good argument can be made that the endorsement was planned for sentencing day.