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 26 Aug Verdict on Michelle Obama speech
The speech delivered by Barack Obama's wife, Michelle (pictured) on the first day of the US Democratic Party convention in Denver has been welcomed by liberal US newspapers while the conservative press was less impressed.
In her speech on the convention's opening night, Michelle said her husband would be "an extraordinary president".
"Obama, Kennedy electrify crowd" ran the headline of an article in the Washington Post, which described Mrs Obama's family-themed speech as "the climax of a dramatic opening day".
Michelle Obama turned the personal into the political, by casting her husband and herself as symbols of America's potential and its promise, the Los Angeles Times said.
Her priority was to "humanise her husband, and share the side of him - and one of her - that the public doesn't always see", the Boston Globe reported, while highlighting the unique challenge faced by Michelle Obama.
"As the first potential African-American first lady, [she] has an unusually complicated task in trying to relate to and connect with the millions of families across the country looking for a president who understands and represents them," the Boston Globe said.
The Wall Street Journal said she faced "a big challenge... to make the country more comfortable with her husband and her". "Many black women hail Mrs Obama as an icon... but many whites remain uneasy".
The New York Times said her speech seemed intended to address the criticism her past comments had drawn; she repeatedly spoke of her pride in America, and ended with the affirmation: "That is why I love this country."
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is due to take centre-stage at the Democratic Party's nominating convention in Denver, Colorado. The party is hoping Mrs Clinton, who lost a hard-fought race for Democratic nomination, can now convince her followers to back his presidential run.
Senator Obama will formally accept the party's nomination on Thursday night.
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