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Hillary Clinton is right up there with Margaret Thatcher and Golda Meier. Not, at this time, destined to be America's first woman president, perhaps later. Her speech was inspiring . . . presidential, in fact, and a tribute to her political acumen and her belief in American principles. It was easily the best speech of her career and if she'd started out with that same enthusiasm, that same insightful connection with her constituents, that same intensity for the "people", she probably would have won the nomination.

To her everlasting credit, she is a patriot and has done more than any "runner-up" candidate in history to show her support for the winning candidate. Her speech made it clear that retaking the Oval Office from the Republicans is more important than her own unique candidacy. It was a clarion call for those who supported her to think not of her personally, but to honor her positions, which are held and reinforced by Barack Obama and to vote for him.

She showed grace, transcended ego and displayed her sincere belief that four more years of Republican rule would destroy our nation. In spite of enormous disappointment after such a hard-fought campaign, she tipped her hat to Barack and pledged her support as well as asking her eighteen million supporters to do the same.

She exhibited a power and strength that will preserve her standing as one of the most effective political forces in history. She will campaign vigorously for Obama and the democratic ideals they both envision.

Early on, her campaign underestimated the unexpected power of the grassroots organization built by Barack Obama in his bid for the nomination. It wasn't until after the February caucuses and primaries that the Clinton campaign recognized it was in a real race for the nomination and she was unable to repair those early oversights. In the closing primaries, she made claims and accusations that will be staples of the Republicans' anti-Obama rhetoric.

Her impassioned speech dealt with and answered that campaign rhetoric. Her confidence in democratic principles, her desire to stop funding special interests and restore a strong middleclass was never better said. Her faith in the American people and the dazzling enthusiasm she showed to campaign for her former opponent exemplified her absolute desire to change the political atmosphere in Washington and bring government back to the people.

Hillary Clinton's speech showed her own power and dispelled any doubt she is presidential. She leaves

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