The Washington Post reports on the DNC convention like it was Oscar night, with the same air of anticipation at the unexpected. This at a convention after the primaries.

DENVER, Aug. 25 — Democrats opened their convention here Monday night with an air of expectation and a sense of uncertainty. They have come to Denver ready to make history with their nomination of Barack Obama for president, but they are nonetheless nervous about what has become a fiercely competitive general-election race against John McCain. Opening night began the job of filling out Obama’s profile for skeptical voters, but what it lacked was any effort to frame for the electorate the choices in November or the case against the Republican candidate.

How does it happen that a candidate for President of the United States can arrive at his own party’s convention a mystery man to the delegates. Something is wrong with this picture. How can it be that after acres of newsprint, tons of ink and miles of videotape have been expended on him he is still unknown. Churchill once wrote, “In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” But is politics wartime?