Most of the generic, off-the-shelf, conventioneer buzzing at these things rarely has anything to do with the candidate’s nuanced position on healthcare or immigration policy and much more to do with how to get into this or that VIP party or simply trying to spot celebrities (political, media, or the Hollywood crowd) as they bounce in and out of hotel lobbies and nightclubs, or as they navigate back hallways at the convention venue.

That said, every convention seems to wind up with an honest-to-goodness juicy sidebar story, event or narrative that somehow rises to the occasion and becomes a kind of subtext for the entire week.

In 1988, at the GOP convention in New Orleans, that buzz honor went to the surprise dockside announcement that Dan Quayle would be George H.W. Bush’s running mate.

In 1992, in New York City, it was Ross Perot’s sudden withdrawal from the race just as Bill Clinton was about to receive the Democratic nomination.

Al Gore’s Hollywood-style lip-lock with wife Tipper earned top honors at the 2000 convention in Los Angeles.

Can’t remember too much about Gore’s speech that year, but that “get-a-room” podium moment still occupies precious brain cells of anyone who was there or watched on television.

Although a newly released Osama bin Laden videotape played a significant role during convention time in 2004, a little speech by a young, no-name, backbench state senator from Illinois quickly zoomed to the top of the list, ensuring easy induction into the Convention Buzz Hall of Fame.

So what will Denver 2008 offer us?

With the pre-convention pick of Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) safely in the rearview mirror, vying for top billing in Denver this week is what I begrudgingly call the Bill and Hillary Exit Strategy.

With Hillary speaking Tuesday night and Bill on Wednesday, the Clintons are not only in the limelight here in Denver, they are in the precarious position of redefining themselves in the national political lexicon (for better or worse) within a span of just 24 hours.

I predict that the former first lady will, at the eleventh hour, summon up some old-fashioned magnanimity and do the right thing by calling off the nonsensical call of the roll for her delegates.

Whether a sincere nod to party unity or a poll-tested, stage-crafted act of self-preservation, it doesn’t really matter to me. It simply must be done.

If Clinton is as smart and canny as I think she is, she will play her moment to maximum effect at the very end of her speech, which will immediately catapult teary-eyed conventioneers out of their seats, onto their feet, to sing her praises all the way out of the Pepsi Center.

Bill Clinton has an entirely different challenge. Already somewhat tarnished by some of his questionable statements during his wife’s bruising primary, the ex-president is in a position to communicate, once and for all, his unequivocal support for and confidence in Barack Obama.

No words spoken, of course, will convince most of us that the Clintons, in their heart of hearts, really think Obama is up to the task of leading the free world, but they both better give Olympic gold medal performances nonetheless.

Given all the landmines facing Republicans this year, John McCain, inexplicably, has made this a race, and Obama needs the Clintons to help stave off the challenge.

Hillary and Bill better stick their landings at the end of their floor exercises this week. If they can’t muster concern for Obama, they might consider their own reputations. That might bring home the gold.

You can reach Jim Mills at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it