Thursday, September 06, 2012

With war ending, the health care system recast and the creaky economy overshadowing all, President Barack Obama is ready to take the stage of the Democratic National Convention to appeal for a second term before a huge prime-time audience.

He's got some tough acts to follow Thursday night -- his wife Michelle's crowd-swooning speech of a few days ago, former President Bill Clinton's rollicking turn on stage Wednesday night and his own soaring oratory of four years ago.

Clinton offered a rousing defense of Obama's economic stewardship in a speech that the president watched from backstage before joining and embracing the ex-president in an unscripted convention appearance. The crowd roared its approval.