New pushing and shoving appears to be taking place between the camps of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. With the Democratic convention only a couple of weeks away new threats by the Clinton camp to enter Hillary’s name into nomination appear designed to bludgeon Obama on the issue of convention roles for the Clintons, as well as trying to force additional financial help from Obama to Clinton. Some news reports have Hillary expressing open dissatisfaction with the Obama teams help on finances, and Bill can’t quite bring himself to say Obama is “prepared” to be President.
Despite that it appears that Hillary will speak on Tuesday, and Bill Clinton will speak on Wednesday. And the camps are working towards an accomodation on the issue of a roll call vote with Hillary Clinton being entered into nomination. The principals themselves have given divergent statements on that issue. From the Washington Post:

“The best way I think to do that is to have a strategy so that my delegates feel like they’ve had a role and that their legitimacy has been validated,” she said. “It’s as old as Greek drama,” Clinton said. “There’s a catharsis. Everybody comes, and they want to yell and scream and have their opportunity, and I think that’s all to the good.”

Obama does not appear to be looking for a “catharsis” but rather for the best way forward for his candidacy.

But yesterday, Obama backed away from the idea of using a vote on the convention floor as a venting session.

“I’m letting our respective teams work out the details,” he told reporters on his campaign plane when asked about the convention standoff. “I don’t think we’re looking for catharsis. I think what we are looking for is energy and excitement about the prospects of changing this country, and I think that people who supported a whole range of different candidates during the primaries are going to come out of that convention feeling absolutely determined that we have to take the White House back.”

So Obama thinks that the convention ought to be designed with the nominee as the focal point. Apparently the Clinton’s disagree. They are engaging in a dangerous game here, and if the delicate balance that exists is thrown off there may be some who blame the Clintons. Obama is taking pains to downplay any rift.

Playing down the competing goals, Obama added: “I spoke to Senator Clinton this week. She’s campaigning for me in Nevada and Florida. She is very enthusiastic about the need for a unified party. I think we are going to have a terrific convention. As is true in all conventions, we’re still working out the mechanics of the four days. Our staffs are in communication, my staff with Senator Clinton’s staff. But I don’t anticipate any problems.”

There really is a limit to the type of pressure that the Clintons can apply. And I anticipate, after all the pushing and shoving, a unified convention that helps Obama. Anything less than that will have consequences for those that promote individual gain over party unity.