Host of political heavyweights to speak at Democratic convention

DENVER — Democrats are gathering in Denver for their convention and coronation of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama as their presidential candidate. On tap is a four-day thrashing and trashing of the status quo as Democrats champion the change message Obama rode to the nomination.

“The 2008 convention will highlight Americans coming together to change the course of this nation,” said Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sibelius, the convention co-chair. “The politics and policies that have divided us will not allow us to achieve the change we need.”

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AP

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is likely to be the scene-stealer Tuesday among a long list of speakers.

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Sibelius said the long list of convention speakers will document “the story of people from across the country who believe it is time for change.”

It begins Monday night in the Pepsi Center when the Navajo Code Talkers Association presents the colors. It ends Thursday night when the show moves outdoors to Invesco Field at Mile High football stadium for Obama’s acceptance speech before a crowd 75,000 people.

In between, the convention will feature what officials are calling “headline prime-time speakers” — well-known Democrats who will pitch the change message — and long lists of lesser-knowns who also will address the topic.

Still to be announced is the timing of the procedural highlight of the convention - the roll-call vote that will make Obama the nominee. Traditionally, that vote is held on the third night of the convention. But convention spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth, perhaps hinting of non-traditional scheduling, said the time of the roll-call vote is still to be announced.

“Stay tuned,” she said.

Here are highlights of the schedule:

• Monday: The prime-timer is Michelle Obama, the candidate’s wife, and the theme is “One Nation.” Speakers include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California; Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill; Maya Soetero-Ng, Obama’s half-sister who is married to a Chinese-Canadian; and Oregon State basketball Coach Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama’s brother. Also scheduled is a tribute to Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

Former President Jimmy Carter is scheduled to speak on a night when the overall idea is, according to Pelosi, to “highlight Sen. Obama’s life story, his commitment to change.”

• Tuesday: Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, now a Senate candidate, is the convention keynoter. But Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is likely to be the scene-stealer among a long list of speakers assigned to talk about new directions for the nation’s economy and energy program.

The list includes Sibelius, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and former Denver Mayor Federico Pena (a former secretary of energy and transportation).

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood and daughter of the late Texas Gov. Ann Richards, will talk about women’s health-care issues.

Look for Clinton to talk about party unity and moving forward after her tough battle against Obama for the nomination. And look to see the reaction from Clinton backers still smarting over her loss to Obama.

Convention officials say Strickland and Rendell will talk about how President Bush’s policies have “betrayed our values and left an economy out of balance.”

Casey and Patrick will link Obama’s policies to people he has met on the long road to the nomination.

• Wednesday: The theme is “Securing America’s Future” and convention officials say they’ve lined up “voices who share Barack Obama’s vision of making America stronger and safer.” The featured messenger will be the vice presidential candidate, but former President Bill Clinton — who not so long ago didn’t seem to fully share Obama’s vision of making America stronger and safer — could be the highlight.

The night’s message will be crafted around Obama’s plan for “a new tough, foreign policy approach that is neither Republican nor Democratic.”

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the Democrats’ unsuccessful 2004 presidential candidate, will speak.

Also on the Wednesday night agenda are several people who had been touted as running mates, including New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden.

Also scheduled for a moment or two in the convention spotlight are West Virginia Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar, House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina and Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Murphy. Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a Iraq war veteran, will lead a tribute to military personnel.

• Thursday: The show moves outdoors to Invesco Field for Obama’s acceptance speech. Look for a special appearance by former Vice President Al Gore.

“Have no doubt,” said Leah Daughtry, the convention’s CEO, “every seat will be a great seat as we listen to Barack Obama communicate the urgency of the moment, highlight the challenges Americans are facing and call on Americans to come together to change the course of our nation.”

Thursday’s events include a “unity breakfast” marking the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington. Speakers will include The Rev. Al Sharpton, Rabbi Jack Moline of Alexandria, Va. (and No. 3 on Newsweek’s 2008 list of the “top 25 pulpit rabbis in America) and Sister Simone Campbell of Washington, executive director of Network, which calls itself a “national Catholic social justice lobby” group