Obama Stands Out With Most Somber Tone at DNC

From the National Journal's Hotline.

** Every candidate sans one peppered the crowd with buttons and bumper stickers. But Sen. Barack Obama, befitting his sober speech, had none of that. His display table outside the main ballroom was spare, expcept for a few sign up sheets and photocopied black and white signs. All the candidates sans one entered to music. But Obama had none. Every candidate packed the hall with supporters. Obama didn't do anything in advance.

** Slogans: HRC: "I'm in it to win." Vilsack: Courage to create change." Kucinich: "Strong leadership for America's future." Edwards: "Tomorrow begins today." Clark: "Securing America's future." Dodd: :"Proven Leadership. A record of results." Gravel: "Let the people decide." Biden: no slogans.

Soros, Susman, and Smoot...Seen This?

Obama's finance team has it's work cut out for it.
AP (via MSNBC) reveals what some of the Democrats eying the White House in '08 had on hand in their Senate accounts. (No word yet on what's in their 'I'm running for president" accounts.)

On top...Hillary Clinton with 11 million dollars.

"The $11 million in her Senate account gives her a clear advantage over her Democratic rivals. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama had about $500,000 in his account, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut had some $5 million that he could transfer and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware had about $3 million."

The Anatomy of Biden's Blunder

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy..."
Senator Joseph Biden (D) Delaware.

• Biden enters race deals with controversial comments about rivals (AP/Intl. Herald Tribune)
  
• Biden Blasts, Clinton, Obama, Edwards (Newsmax)
• The Biden Tapes (New York Observer)
• Biden Unwraps His Bid for '08 With an Ooops! (New York Times)
• Biden starts White House run with controversy (Reuters/ABCnews.com)

INSULT TO INJURY

• Bush says Obama has a long way to go (but at least he's articulate!) (New York Times)
• Bush says rising star Obama still far from White House (AFP)
• Biden says comments taken out of context (CNN)
  

THE REACTION

• Obama not offended by comments but called them "historically inacurate" (CNN)
• Fox hyperbole over Biden blunder (News Hounds)
• Defending Biden's blooper, Matthews ignores "clean" crack (News Busters)
  

THE APOLOGY

"I deeply regret any offense my remark in the New York Observer might have caused anyone. That was not my intent and I expressed that to Senator Obama." Senator Joseph Biden (D) Delaware.

• Articulate Obama forgives Biden (Chicago Sun Times)
• Biden Apoligizes to Obama for Remarks (AP/Christian Broadcasting Network)

THE SPIN (from The Daily Show)