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Harold Ickes, Jr., the scrappy strategist credited with pointing out early (and futilely) that the Hillary Clinton campaign’s delegate-gathering strategy was flawed, sat down among the delegates himself last night — right in the middle of the New York delegation. He’s been to the White House as Deputy Chief of staff, then to Arlington as a member of the unhappy Hillary Clinton leadership team. But last night he was just an upper west sider.

The New York delegation alternately sobbed, cheered and leapt to it’s feet during Hillary Clinton’s speech, hoisting “Hillary” posters — featuring her signature. Some stood for the entire last half of the speech. It was an emotional “what might have been” moment for the delegation, but they waved their “Obama” and “Unity” placards as hard as anyone else. Afterwards the reviews were unanimous from New York. Said Congressman Charles Rangel, an African American who took some heat for his early and persistent support of Clinton “she did exactly what she needed to do. Now we can go on and elect Barack Obama president.”