Amid persistent rumors of chilly relations between Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, it was reported in early August of 2008, that the candidate had personally allotted a major speaking slot for the former president at the 2008 Democratic Convention. Clinton addressed Democratic Party delegates on the third night of the convention, Wednesday, August 27.

Although political pundits were preoccupied with the Barack Obama/Hillary Clinton rivalry through the first half of 2008, the relationship between Obama and Bill Clinton was also a source of speculation. Several events throughout the Democratic primary season and beyond were believed to have been signs of—or causes of—tension between the two men.

• January 26, 2008: Bill Clinton compares Obama's victory in South Carolina to those of Jesse Jackson in previous primaries, saying "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina in '84 and '88—Jackson ran a good campaign, and Obama ran a good campaign here." Some commentators saw this remark as an example of the former president playing "the race card"—dismissing Obama's victory in a state with a large black electorate.The New York Times: "A Former President, Back in the Thick of... (January 27, 2008)

• June 24, 2008: With Obama having effectively wrapped up the nomination, Bill Clinton offered a single-sentence comment on his candidacy through a spokesman: “President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States." The statement was seen as less than an outright endorsement.ABC News: Bill Clinton Offers Support to Obama (June 24, 2008)

• August 4, 2008: Asked by an ABC News reporter whether Obama was "ready to be president," Clinton gave an indirect response that some commentators called patronizing. Clinton said, "You could argue that no one is ever ready to be president... he's smart as a whip, so there's nothing he can't learn."NY Daily News: Bill Clinton Refuses to Say Barack Obama Is 'ready' for White House (August 4, 2008)