Dems announce convention speakers--Warner, Clintons, Pelosi, Bayh

All this week, the Democrats have been doling out the nightly themes and speakers for the party's convention this month in Denver, where Barack Obama will (finally!) lose the adjective "presumptive" that's been attached to the words "presidential nominee."

The theme for opening night -- Monday, Aug. 25 -- is "One Nation," with Michelle Obama as the headliner and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Maya Soetoro-Ng (Barack Obama's half-sister) and Craig Robinson (Michelle Obama's brother) in supporting roles. The handkerchiefs will be out for a tribute to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who's being treated for a malignant brain tumor.

Tuesday's theme, "Renewing America's Promise," features Sen. Hillary Clinton as the "headline prime-time speaker" -- but she could be overshadowed by the convention's keynote speaker, former Virginia governor and current Senate candidate Mark Warner. (Remember, it was Obama's performance as the keynote speaker four years ago -- when he too was a Senate candidate -- that brought him to national attention.) Also speaking Tuesday are a gaggle of governors -- Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania, Ted Strickland of Ohio, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Brian Schweitzer of Montana -- along with Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Federico Peña, who was mayor of Denver before becoming secretary of both Energy and Transportation under President Clinton.

Wednesday -- which focuses on "Securing America's Future" -- is the night ...

... when Obama's vice presidential selection will take the spotlight, and among the scheduled speakers are several believed to be on the short list. From today's press release:

Former President Bill Clinton will speak on Barack Obama’s commitment to a stronger and safer America, as well as the history of Democrats making positive change in the lives of all Americans.

Gov. Bill Richardson and Sens. Evan Bayh, Joe Biden and Jay Rockefeller will echo Obama’s call for a new direction in national security and outline his policies and plans to secure America’s future.

One of the greatest security challenges facing the country today is reducing our dependence on oil, especially from foreign sources. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will discuss Barack Obama’s plans to make America more secure by investing in smart energy policies. 

Sen. Ken Salazar, the convention’s home-state senator, and House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn will also speak as part of the "Securing America’s Future" program.

A bedrock component of Obama’s national security plan is increasing our support to active-duty military, veterans and military families. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will lead a tribute honoring those who give so much to secure our nation’s future.

You can ignore the names in the last three paragraphs -- and you can safely assume Bill Clinton is out of the running as well. But take a close look at the second paragraph: Could the future #2 on the ticket be hiding in plain sight? (Or is the Obama campaign trying to fake us all out?)

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Obama photo credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images; Clinton photo credit: Bizuayehu Tesfaye / Bloomberg News

Comments

[VJ Machiavelli]

I wonder how much Michelle Obama and Hillary Soprano paid for their dresses, shoes, etc, etc. I wonder how many Democ"rats' will be wearing $500.00 shoes. It seems Senator Schumer and the Labor movement is making a big deal out of McCains "SHOES". Well it is time the reporters of this blog and the others start asking Union Leaders and Democ"rats" like Nancy Pelosi how much their shoes, dresses, handbags, wallet, etc cost. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
I guess senator Schumer forgot all about the DC37 scandal in New York City.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[Stefan]

I've seen a lot of uproar when there is some fake whitey scandal, but hardly ever on actual policy or what the candidates are going to do to help fix the country when they get in office. I remember Anne Marie Cox of wonkette/swampland saying on CSPAN that she wrote articles on policy and no one read them. This country better start doing so and stop focusing on things that don't matter like celebrity issues or this country is going down the tubes. Now I know you all may not agree with everything this article says, but I'll put it up anyway. G'day.

http://warofillusions.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/selection-08-buyer-beware-v2/

[Edwin L. Jones]

The decision has been made on the speakers. There are 35 million good reasons to have Hillary Clinton speak but I wouldn't let Evan Bayh speak at my dogs' funeral and I don't have a dog. Fortunately, Senator Obama is much more mature and inclusive than I.

[scootmandubious]

It's looking like Bayh or Biden for #2.

Interesting that, if geographical diversity is the issue, why would Bayh be the man?

I am more and more intrigued that it could be Biden, though, from a marketing perspective, as a counterpoint to McCain, Bayh probably makes the most sense.

Personally, I would not be thrilled with Bayh or Biden as #2, but I could live with either.

My dream ticket? Feingold-Dodd

Now THAT is change we can really believe in.

However, Obama is head-and-shoulders above McNasty.

[Aaron D]

Conspicuously missing from the Military - Foreign Affairs Themed VP night...Gen Wesley Clark hmmmmm. and isn't Securing Americas Future the slogan of his PAC?

[Baggem]

Wes got thrown under the bus with Charlie Rangel and Jesse Jackson.

[Martina]

All this week the Democrats have been doling out the nightly themes and speakers for the party's convention this month in Denver.