Obama speech leaves out Hillary Clinton

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One prominent Democrat wasn't mentioned by President Obama in his acceptance speech Thursday night — Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The secretary of State was about as far as way as one could get during Obama's address. She was in Brunei as part of a diplomatic trip to Asia.

It’s not unusual for a president to leave his secretary of State out of an address to the party faithful. The job is seen as nonpartisan, above-the-fray, which is an image Clinton has been careful to maintain, declining to campaign or talk in depth about the election.

Still, Clinton is no ordinary secretary of State. She is one of the most recognizable members of the Democratic Party and Obama's chief rival in the 2008 primaries, one of the most contentious match-ups in recent political history.

She’s also someone who could make another run for the White House in 2016. And her voice was heard on Thursday — she appeared in a video talking about the killing of Osama bin Laden.

When former President Clinton mentioned his wife’s name in his own address on Wednesday night, he received a roar from the crowd.

“President Obama appointed several members of his cabinet even though they supported Hillary in the primary. Heck, he even appointed Hillary,” Clinton said.

In return, the State Department released a photo of a grinning Hillary Clinton, watching her husband's speech online, while she was working in East Timor — a reminder of her job and her presence.