It will be terrific on the day. With Bill Clinton it always is. Far less certain is whether his convention speech today will lay to rest lingering uncertainties about his involvement in the Obama campaign just a few months ago, his role in the party and not least whether he is at peace with himself.

Mr Clinton comes to the convention in the unaccustomed role of a loser, if only by association. He threw himself into his wife's campaign, but she was outsmarted by an upstart rival, one who peddled ''fairytales'', according to the former president but who proved that he was more than a match for the most vaunted machine in Democratic politics.

By all accounts, Mr Clinton and the young man bidding for his old job have hardly spoken since the end of the epic primary battle. His public support has been lukewarm at best.

''Was Barack Obama ready to be president?'' Mr Clinton was asked last month. ''No one could ever be prepared for the job,'' he answered.

Today his support will be more full-throated, as it has to be before an audience still divided but determined not to blow an election in circumstances that could not be more favourable.

The grievances, however, will surely linger. The Independent