Hume’s analysis is fine, but I suspect that (beyond needing a gimmick to justify media attention for a purposeless convention):
1) Obama retains some fear of a convention rebellion in favor of Hillary.
2) Wishful thinking by many Democrats that Obama might be dumped for Hillary! is hurting campaign donations and Obama’s poll numbers. (At least Obama’s handlers hope so).
Lining up Bill to place Obama’s name in nomination, and announcing this publicly, pretty much kills the draft Hillary notion.
Unfortunately for Obama, Bill is always about Bill. Reminding the electorate that he, for all his faults, was a skillful politician, enormously more engaged and effective as President than Obama, who actually did bipartisan business by co-opting the Republican agenda, tamed the deficit, etc., makes Obama look mighty shabby. Obama does not measure up to Bill’s standards, even for honesty.
Man, that is soooo cruel. True and funny as hell, but still cruel.