Media Mudballs

Boston Globe: "At times, Clinton's address sounded like an acceptance speech, as she recalled her own historic quest for the White House and the many people she met on the campaign trail and hoped to help as president."

I also remember thinking, had she written part of this in more optimistic times?

New York Post: "While throwing her political weight behind her one-time foe, Clinton said little that boosted Obama's personal story, political résumé - nor did she defend him against GOP attacks that he's unqualified for office."

Bloggers mostly said Hillary had missed the mark. Slate's John Dickerson:

"She said some nice words about Obama in her speech--yeah, she was proud to support him, fine--but then she switched into a litany of issues she'd fought for and people who had placed their faith in her. It was all about her, it sounded like. But then, with that question, she pivoted. The litany she'd just recited became an argument for Obama instead of a list of reasons to vote for her . . .

"There was one big flaw in the pitch: Clinton never made the case that Barack Obama was ready to lead as commander in chief. That was her strongest argument against Obama during the primary--so strong the McCain campaign is recycling her ad about the president answering the phone at 3 a.m. Maybe Joe Biden is planning to address that issue for Obama, and Clinton needed to stay focused on convincing her supporters. Still, it felt like a hole."

Politico's Roger Simon sees the speech as nothing more than dutiful:

"Hillary said the right things. Nobody could accuse her of going overboard, but she said the right things . . .

"It was history. Of a sort. She showed that a woman could win the nomination. But she did not win the nomination. And the guy who did made some history, too.

"She is due respect nonetheless. But there is a point when a demand for respect turns into an aura of entitlement. And some have been acting as if it were preordained that Clinton would win the Democratic nomination this year -- she was the candidate of inevitability, after all -- and that somehow Barack Obama stole it from her."

Andrew Sullivan wants to know: Where's the passion?

"She started out a little dull and a little self-obsessed. But then she rallied - a little. 'No Way. No How. No McCain' was a good line. And the Twin Cities analogy was a great little riff on Bush and McCain. But I have to say her speaking style, although much improved over even a year ago, is still a little flat. When she's passionate, she has little inflection. When she's quieter, she's a little drony . . .