Wow, Hillary just plunged the convention into CHAOS!

[cp]

I think it's hard to spin the reaction of the former Clinton supporters as anything but a success for Obama. They made their stand and got their voices heard in the roll call and had their hero point the way when Hillary gave her speech. The degree of support shown for Clinton as opposed to Obama in these instances was *supposed* to happen. It's part of the pageantry of the event and, most importantly, it's a catharsis.

Hillary supporters got a final opportunity to show their devotion, mourn their loss, and leach out  their animosity. With the convention concluded, Hillary and Bill out of the limelight, and Obama anointed as the party's standard bearer the PUMA attitude will diminish and disappear.

And if that won't work, watching a week of what the alternative to Obama is should whip even the most unreconstructed Clintonite into line.

[cp]

I think you're reading too much into the PUMA's intentions. I doubt they ever really had any affection for John McCain. It's sort of like the 'anybody-but-Bush' sentiment from 2004. It could be a ham sandwich carrying the Republican banner, they'd still say they were voting for it.

The PUMA's have never been about the policies or ideology of the candidates. Their objections are superficial: their girl lost, so they don't want the guy who beat her to win. They'll make as much noise and get as much attention - Democrats for McCain is a headline grabber - to get that point across as they can.

Luckily for the Democrats, such skin-deep wounds are easily healed by mass demonstrations and alcohol-fueled gladhanding among friends.