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You might think it’s the second coming of JFK and FDR and MLK (and a little bit of Marilyn Monroe thrown in for good measure) with the frenzy that’s surrounding Democrats in Denver and the media that suckle at their breasts.  But no, it’s just a man — a historic, paradigm-shifting, silver-tongued man — accepting his party’s nomination.  In a football field.  With a crowd of 75,000 expected.

Obama is trying desperately to tamp down expectations of his acceptance speech.  It’s going to be “workmanlike” and focus on America needing a change.  There’s a couple of reasons behind the hype dial down:

1. Because the lower the media and public expectations are of his speech, the better received it will be.  People are already talking about this being the speech of his life.  If people go in expecting a 10 and you give an 8, all they are going to talk about going into the long weekend is how you didn’t deliver.  If you say you are going to deliver a 7 and then give a 9 … that’s gold.

2. Because he needs to counter the McCain camp hype that Obama could see a 15-point surge from the convention.  Which is insane.  No one gets that much of a surge off of a convention.  But that’s the point; throw that number out there and when Obama doesn’t reach it, its somehow his fault.

3.  Because they (meaning the media) are going to be running pieces of this clip nonstop (Nightline started it off last night already).  And frankly, it’s a hard clip to beat.

And if isn’t that clip, then it’s going to be this one …. from 45 years ago today.

I can’t really blame the media; it’s hard not to get excited about the acceptance speech.  Because Obama’s been known to give a good one now and then.  And it’s an historic day.  And the man is going to have some sweet visuals in a 75,000-seat stadium filled with screaming, adoring people. Although he’s already getting some flack over that.  To which I say, just relax, people.  Relax.

I watched Obama give his star-making speech almost exactly 4 years ago and I got chills then.  I still get chills now hearing it again.  So I’m totally into the hype.  And I totally expect the speech to kick ass.