Starks is a first-year politics/finance major and can be reached at [email protected]

A week after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney accepted his party’s nomination in Tampa, Fla., President Barack Obama attempted to relive the glory and hype of 2008’s Democratic National Convention. Gone were the glorious columns, in reality, this year’s convention looked austere compared to the momentous occasion where the then Sen. Obama formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president, becoming the first African-American to do so. However, past the glittering lights for Obama on Thursday evening, the Democratic National Convention was a series of falters for a party in desperate need of a boost

Obama began the week of Sept. 3 in a statistical tie in most polls and with the Real Clear Politics polling average in a dead heat. Most nominating conventions give the nominee of a party a slight statistical boost that is often attributed to the massive media coverage of the event.

However, Tuesday was the beginning of the choreographed part of the DNC, an endless series of speakers backing the Obama/Biden ticket.  Like many stump speeches, most lacked substance and actual vision for the country. Former Republican Govs. Lincoln Chaffee, RI, and Charlie Christ, Fla., addressed the convention in an attempt to broaden the ticket’s appeal with disillusioned Republican voters. None the less, the speeches were not nearly as covered as 2008 Obama Campaign Chair and Democratic Congressman Artur Davis’ heartfelt appeal in Tampa for the Romney/Ryan ticket. One of the highlights of Tuesday night, let alone the entire convention, was a speech by First Lady Michelle Obama, which showed the softer side of the Obama family and reiterated the message of her husband’s greatest legislative achievement reworded to show “Obama cares.”

Following Tuesday night’s shining star, the second day of the DNC seemed to try to replicate that flowing emotion. However, many viewers would note how forceful the emotional connection made seemed. The party rolled out former Bain Capital employees, pro-choice activist Sandra Fluke and Senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren in an attempt to demonize the Romney campaign. The reiteration of the same attacks used in many commercials likely had little to no effect on the campaign as it stands and most of the second day seemed a waste. Like Tuesday, there was a diamond in the rough in former President Bill Clinton’s speaking style, which can woo many independent voters who may think that President Obama is far too liberal.

The convention culminated Thursday night in a much smaller arena seating only 20,000 people after some speculated the first arena (aptly named Bank of America Stadium) which seats over 70,000 couldn’t be filled. Obama’s speech had a far different tone than the hope and change that seemed gospel only four years ago. It seemed dismal as if the world could soon face a terrible change if Gov. Romney were to become president, which seemed to be a shadow of the overall convention. President Obama looked like the underdog last week after a flawless convention by the Romney campaign, so he, with the rest of the party, engaged in the politics of deception that he swore against in front of Greek columns four years ago.