Bob Rae    Bob Rae MP for Toronto Centre

Some post Hillary speech thoughts. She did what she has to do, spoke directly to supporters, connected well with them. The hall was abuzz, some red meat on McCain and the Republicans. When I got back to my hotel room watched Fox and CNN and thought I must have been at a different event. The right-wing commentators are brutal all round, CNN not much better than Fox, which is unbelievably bad. And they call it "no spin". Breathtaking.

Deep concern all round about the state of the polls. Obama's momentum has stalled, working class voters not sure, McCain's "independence" and maverick monikers seem to resonate with swing voters, so does the sense that he is tested and qualified.

Democrats pummeling McCain with the "four more years of Bush"tag line (Montana Governor Bruce Schweitzer did an excellent crowd pleaser before Hillary's speech last night), but does it fly outside the convention? That is the $64 question.

Keep being reminded of Trudeaumania, which in its initial impact of 1968 was unstoppable. But he didn't have Fox and CNN to deal with, and the full force of a right united in its nasty effectiveness. Obama will have to mobilize turnout like never before, and the army of enthusiasm will have to be matched by more people saying he has what it takes to be the chief executive and commander in chief. Right now McCain is ahead on "best qualified to be President" by fifteen points.

Tonight's speeches by Joe Biden and Bill Clinton will tell a story.