'Uncommon Grace'

Had it been based on a popular vote, Hillary Clinton would have had the Democratic nomination.

But, elections aren’t won according to popular vote counts, and Hillary Clinton lost. Based on tonight’s reception of the junior senator from NY at the Democratic National Convention, however, one would have thought she’d won.

Love her or hate her, Hillary Clinton can not be denied due respect.

In one of the most important speeches of the convention, Hillary had to take the first step in unifying the Democratic Party. Her husband, Bill Clinton who sat in tears listening to his wife’s speech, will take the next few steps tomorrow. It will be left to Sen. Barack Obama to do the rest on Thursday.

But tonight belongs to Hillary.

How many women, how many people period, could fight as hard as she fought for the Democratic nomination only to lose based on party rules, and then come out as strong as she did Tuesday night for the same party that issued the denial?

Hillary did it.

“The time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose,” Hillary said. “…Were you involved in this campaign just for me? …Or were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?”

She didn’t sound like a loser tonight. If you ask me, Hillary actually sounded pretty presidential.

“No way, no how, no McCain,” Hillary said. “Barack Obama is my candidate, and he must be our president.”

“A fighter of uncommon grace,” Clinton said f Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones who unexpectedly died last week. But when I looked at Hillary tonight, she just as easily could have been describing herself.

So did Hillary deliver for Barack Obama tonight?

You tell me.