[O'brien:] Joe Bided last night, his acceptance speech, an homage to his family and a quiet but powerful attack on the opposition. With us to talk VP's and much more, CNN political analyst Roland Martin and CNN contributor David Brody, with Christian Broadcasting Network. Nice to see both you gentleman as you get ready there. Roland, let's start with you. Let's begin with i fact, let's play a little clip of what Joe Biden said last night, a little piece of his speech. And then I'll ask you a question on the other side.
[Sen. Joe Biden , Vice Presidential Candidate:] Should you trust the judgment of John McCain when he said only three years ago, Afghanistan, we don't read about it anymore in the papers because it succeeded. Should we trust John McCain's judgment when he rejected talking with Iran and then asked, what is there to talk about? Or Barack Obama who said, we must talk and make clear to Iran that it must change. Now, after seven years of denial, even the Bush administration recognizes that we should talk to Iran.
[O'brien:] He rang home the national security issue, which was kind of his job in being the attack dog, too. Roland, earlier in the week you were very unhappy. You were saying that these guys just did not have it together yet. Do you think that the Democratic Party's finally gotten it together in this convention?
[Roland Martin, Cnn Contributor:] Well, actually, what we were looking at is in terms of really a continuant. I mean, David and I really talked about it from day one. If you look at Monday: Faith, values, family. You need to set the stage. Tuesday: A day of healing. Wednesday: National security, economy. Today: Barack Obama closes it up. This is a relay, OK? We had the first leg, the second leg, the third leg. Now you're putting this baton in the anchor guy, saying, look, take us home. Let's win the gold. That's really what this is all about. So, their messaging I thought, has been right as opposed to attacking from day one.
[O'brien:] David, you had some concerns
[David Brody, Cnn Contributor:] Yes, Soledad, let me just add to that
[O'brien:] Oh, I'm sorry. You know, but your concerns David, in fact when we spoke earlier. I mean, on Monday, was that that Clinton speech could actually overshadow Barack Obama. Do you think the speech overshadowed him? It was a good speech, by most people's estimations, a very good speech or a great speech. Do you think it overshadowed or do you think it teed-up Barack Obama for tonight?
[Brody:] No. I think it teed him up. I don't think there's any question. But look, this is Barack Obama's convention. The Clintons had their couple of days. It will be Barack Obama tonight. It was Barack Obama last night to a certain degree as well. So, you know, the real issue, Soledad, is the authenticity issue and here's what I mean by that. Joe Biden and a lot of these other speakers that have come to the podium President Clinton, for example, all talking about Barack Obama has the right judgment. The problem here, Soledad, is that the Republican National Committee is armed. Armed with videotape, armed with YouTube clips of Joe Biden, President Clinton on the "Charlie Rose Show." I mean, talking about all this stuff, about how maybe a risk to go with Obama. This is the problem. And so even though they're talking about judgment here, even though Joe Biden talked a lot about how this will be about judgment, the problem is they have arsenal, lots of it, on the other side, against that argument.
[O'brien:] Well, let me ask you a question about that. Hey, hang on Roland. Let me ask you a question about than then. Because you heard President Clinton try to sort of get rid of that last night, one by saying similar things were said about me and, two, I think also by kind of referring to the primary got very heated. Do you think realistically, not just in the staged convention, but for voters, isn't there a sense that, yes, these people get out there and they sling mud at each other and that's kind of the way it works. You know, that they're against each other in the primary and at some point you move on. Or do you think people really that that sticks and it can't be overcome with a speech highlighting and endorsing a candidate?
[Brody:] It depends, Soledad. It can stick if it continues to be the narrative. And this is what we're talking about here. What's going to happen over the next months is who can better craft the narrative. And this is why the Obama campaign must, must have this authenticity issue not taken away from them.
[O'brien:] Well, what do you think, Roland? Hang on. So Roland, do you think it's going to be a
[Martin:] Well, first of all, he's right. Soledad, this is all about who can hit the hardest, OK? Look, more than likely, McCain is going to choose Mitt Romney. And guess what, the Democrats have a treasure trove of Mitt Romney saying McCain knows nothing about the economy, he's not good. And so they're going to be battling back and forth. There's no doubt it's going to happen. The real key is also the word usage. For the Democrats on national security, they're saying judgment. McCain saying experience. McCain is going to say, I have targeted the economy. Obama people are going to say, yes, but you said he knew nothing about it. And so there will be battling back and forth. So again, what does the public buy into? That is going to be the key. Absolutely, David's right.
[O'brien:] Expectations certainly for Barack Obama are a lot for this evening. I mean, if you listen to the critics on both sides, he's got to be lofty and he's got to be specific. He's got to be presidential, but also down to Earth. He's got to be compelling, but not proffesorial. And you know, it's like, you got to be A and you got to be Z. How, Roland why don't you start. How do you pull that all off? Oh, and by the way, this is the anniversary of a very historic event, probably the best speech ever in history was given on this day. That's a lot.
[Martin:] You know what? I think he should just go ahead and skip tonight and go ahead and go back to Chicago. But you know what? But, you're right. I mean, first of all, what you're seeing on the Republican side, they've been trying to raise the expectations in a large way. They released a memo last way saying oh, he should get a 15-point
[Brody:] Yes, Soledad, here's the thing. The bar is just not high, it's mile high if you what I'm saying here in Denver. Look
[Martin:] Oh, that was cute, David.
[Brody:] Thank you so much. Listen, I've been working on that all week, by the way, Soledad. I figured I'd use it and break it out here.
[Martin:] There you go.
[Brody:] But, listen. Here's the one word I think Obama cannot say tonight, but, I have a feeling he's going to say it. And that is the word world. In other words, he needs to talk about America, America, America. World is not a good word for him and here's why. You have the Berlin speech, 200,000 people, you're talking about changing the world. Hey listen. That sounds great, it's "Kumbaya," it's "We Are the World" video The problem is, is that the McCain campaign is already going on with this temple of Obama, the celebrity ad. It's a little bit raised to the point where, is it going to look like Obama is above the people? I mean, this whole bitterness cling to guns and religion, it's all playing into this that the McCain camp loves. He needs to stick to America, rather than the world vision because that raises him too much to the point where there may be a disconnect.
[Martin:] Now, I'm going to say what David doesn't want to say. And the problem, Soledad, Americans flat out don't want to act like we know about the rest of the world. It's all about us. But the reality is, when we get in trouble, we need to call our partners. So maybe Americans need to step up and realize we can talk about the world not only in a crisis, but also right now.
[O'brien:] I'm sure Senator Obama is quickly writing notes from the helpful advice you're giving him. And he may even steal your mile high expectations
[Martin:] We just got an e-mail.
[O'brien:] Gentlemen, I thank you very much, as always. We'll check in with you a little bit later. More convention coverage coming to you in just about 15 minutes and of course, throughout the day. In New York, I'm Soledad O'Brien at the CNN Election Center. Going to send you back to Atlanta and CNN NEWSROOM right after this short break. Stay with us.