This is the moment when I realize that –save for the pesky 22nd Amendment — Bill Clinton right now would be running for his sixth term.

— Walter Shapiro (@waltershapiroPD) September 6, 2012

Clinton’s genius is in trotting out totally focus-group-tested lines and making them sound incredibly authentic.

— Nate Silver (@fivethirtyeight) September 6, 2012

Clinton mastery is not just getting crowd going, but getting him going in his direction. An interactive speech, an experience. #DNC2012

— Rick Klein (@rickklein) September 6, 2012

No one–no one alive–has a better time in the political arena than this guy.

— Jeff Greenfield (@greenfield64) September 6, 2012

Bill Clinton’s speech could be a turning point

By far the biggest event in the 2012 White House campaign came overnight when Bill Clinton nominated Barack Obama to be the Democratic party nominee for November’s election.

His speech was described by many commentators as his best ever and what should worry the Romney camp was the forensic way that the former president attacked Ryan’s budget plans – something that’s going to be a big theme.

The big question mark hanging over the Obama campaign has been whether it can enthuse voters to turn out for their man in the way they did in their tens of millions four years ago.

The polling has suggested that they have been struggling – certainly with those voter segments with lower participation rates. This isn’t 2008.

Clinton’s speech, whether you agree with him or not, was simply superb and should go a long way to re-engaging the voters who have slipped away.

I have switched my position to Obama.

Mike Smithson @MSmithsonPB