Posted on 06/28/2004 8:05:22 PM PDT by Liz
WASHINGTON, June 28 - Former President Bill Clinton will be the opening-night attraction of the Democratic convention in Boston next month, kicking off the four-day event with a speech in prime time, just as he did in 2000, party officials said on Monday.
But the decision to use Mr. Clinton this time came easily, party officials said, unlike the decision four years ago, when some advisers to Vice President Al Gore were ambivalent about giving Mr. Clinton such prominence at the convention. By contrast, some officials said, it is Mr. Gore's role at the convention this year that is still being worked out.
Details of the Democratic convention's speaker list began to seep out Monday, after the Republicans announced the lineup for their convention in late August and early September, which will include popular centrists like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York City and Senator John McCain of Arizona.
Democratic officials said their choreography of the convention reflected a belief that it was one of the most important events of the campaign for Mr. Kerry, who will use it to introduce himself to voters who may be paying close attention for the first time.
Several officials said that the speaking schedule was still being discussed and that nothing was final; all of them spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they could not be identified because the schedule had not officially been announced. But what is close to certain now, they said, is that Mr. Clinton will speak in prime time on the convention's opening night, July 26; Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts will speak in prime time on July 27; Senator John Kerry's running mate, who has yet to be named, will speak on July 28; and Mr. Kerry will give his acceptance speech on July 29.
Party and campaign officials said it was also likely that Mr. Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, would have a prominent speaking role at the convention, as could one or more of Mr. Kerry's primary and caucus opponents.
One senior aide to Mr. Kerry said the campaign decided to open the convention with Mr. Clinton because "we think Bill Clinton talking about the enormous prosperity of the 1990's, and the importance of John Kerry's candidacy, is an important discussion to have."
The Kerry campaign's comfort level with Mr. Clinton is far greater than was that of Mr. Gore's campaign in 2000, which feared not only that Mr. Clinton would remind voters about the sex scandal that marred his administration, but also that he would overshadow the staid Mr. Gore.
Another senior official with Mr. Kerry's campaign said Mr. Clinton had posed more concern for Mr. Gore because Mr. Gore believed it was crucial that he break from his boss and establish his own separate identity, which Mr. Kerry does not need to do.
Officials at the party and at the campaign said they were certain Mr. Gore would speak at the convention, but not certain which day and whether it would be during the hours of prime time television.
Mr. Gore, Democratic officials said, is a powerful figure whose very presence at the convention is expected to remind Democrats of the bitterness they felt in 2000, when Mr. Gore won the popular vote but lost to George W. Bush in the Electoral College. But party officials said they also wanted to be careful to ensure that the convention focused on Mr. Kerry's vision for the future, not the wrongs Democrats felt in the past.
Donna Brazile, Mr. Gore's campaign manager in 2000, said Mr. Gore should be given a prominent role at the convention precisely because of the fiery oratorical style he had honed in the last couple of years.
"He has not only found his voice,'' Ms. Brazile said, "but he has really gone after the Bush administration in ways I don't think the Kerry campaign can go after Bush administration. They should give Al Gore a key position, a prime time speech, and let him roll."
Michael Feldman, a former aide to Mr. Gore and now a Democratic strategist, said the former vice president's presence at the convention could prove crucial in inspiring Democrats to go to the polls in November.
"Look, he's the embodiment and a reminder of what's at stake in this election, that every vote counts," Mr. Feldman said.
Three officials said Mr. Kerry had a high level of comfort with Mr. Gore and had personally requested that he speak last week before the American Constitution Society, a left-leaning group of lawyers and law students in Washington. Mr. Gore agreed, making the case that the administration was eroding civil liberties.
Campaign and party officials said the fact that Mr. Gore would be featured significantly at all was a break from past conventions, which have not normally given much attention to losing candidates of the past. And a senior adviser to Mr. Kerry said the convention planners would show Mr. Gore due respect as the former vice president and the winner of the popular vote in 2000, adding emphatically, "He will speak and he will not get dissed."
As the Democrats neared completion of their convention schedule, Republicans said Monday that they had put the finishing touches on theirs, set to begin in New York on Aug. 30. Aside from giving prime-time speaking roles to Mr. Schwarzenegger, a popular new figure on the Republican scene, and Mr. Giuliani, whose national stature grew significantly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, convention planners said they would also give prime-time speaking spots to First Lady Laura Bush and Gov. George E. Pataki of New York.
New York City's mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, a Republican presiding over a predominantly Democratic city, will speak, but on the morning of the convention's first day rather than in prime time.
Talking with reporters, Mr. Bloomberg said Monday that was fine with him, given that the two other New York Republicans on the convention bill, Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Pataki, had worked hard to re-elect the president, while he was simply a host.
"It is perfectly appropriate that both of them were given starring roles," he said. "And I am happy for both, and I certainly will listen to them, to the extent I have the time to do so."
Jennifer Steinhauer contributed reporting from New York.
I hope America's pharmacies don't run out of No-doze.
I wonder if Teresa will give a major policy address like Al Gore.
Of course. In her mind, Teresa's a legend, already.
Sounds like a party. Too bad I have other plans. When was it again?
S-s-s-h. Don't burst Al's dream bubble. Guy thinks he's still the candidate.
I'm pleased to see that Bloomberg isn't getting a nighttime slot. I realize he has to speak, given that NYC is the host city, but I really don't care for him.
Surprising that The Ketchup Queen is getting such a big role at the Dem convention. I thought they'd want to muzzle her. Maybe they'll make sure she has a double dose of her meds that day.
Former President Bill Clinton will be the opening-night attraction of the Democratic convention in Boston next month, kicking off the four-day event with a speech in prime time, just as he did in 2000, party officials said on Monday.
Being sealed in a barrel with Jerry Nadler sitting on the lid is my recommendation.
Then again, maybe they could slip her some knockout drops in a $1200 bottle of Cristal.
LOL.....the mental pic is priceless.
Good luck getting Clinton off the stage by the 29th.
Speakers will include popular centrists like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York City and Senator John McCain of Arizona.
Tureza's smug eurotrash accent isn't going to play well in the heartland, either.
The "drama queen" walk is a possbiility ....and if the book isn't selling too well, he could carry it as he strolls in.
Oh, they got that figured out. Gonnna hire an earth mover to scoop him off the stage.
Wait'll she starts mouthing off on how she's really Black.
"This President was selected not elected!"
Gore HAS to be allowed to speak. This reality show isn't complete without him.
LOL....best laugh of the day.
His "Official Portrait" will be all the reminder needed.
Um?? Could it be? Has anyone ever seen Gore and Kerry's running mate in different rooms at the same time?
Sounds like MTV, not a political convention.
Hope Tommy Nee and the Police Union is there.. but on second thought, since the "second coming" is coming.........Whaddya think about the union strike being "settled" like.. yesterday?? Guess the fact that OUR AWESOME REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY subbed for the french looking Candidate today and crossed them picket lines at the Mayors of America Conference didn't go over so well.. except of course for "Mumbles Menino" who is going to owe Romney BIG TIME!! Ya gotta love this place, it is "TRULY" the Most Corrupt state in the union!! Afterall, we are the home state of the "Mary Jo" Oldsmobile Submarine Launch!!
Now, this is getting to be FUN!!
Did the networks carry Laura Bush's speech in 2000? It is my recollection that they did not, but I could be wrong.
Is that a cigar on the desk to his left?
FWIW I heard on TV today that her actual worth is closer to $1 BILLION., and that the Kerrys would be the richest family ever to occupy the White House.
Yes, JF'in would be a true champion of the common man/extreme sarcasm off
LMAO!!!
How True.
A parallel universe, to be sure.
(Sniffle) that gets me.....right here.....(sob).
Man, soon as Bill said they'd talk about getting her a better job----after he got serviced----that little slut slid under the desk s-o-o-o f-a-a-s-t.
WOW! I think I'm going to wet myself. The first Black President AND the first African-American First Lady candidate speaking on the same night?
WOW! I think I'm going to wet myself. The first Black President AND the first African-American First Lady candidate speaking on the same night?
Wh....at? No big speech from Hill? Well, The Manchurian Candidate will have been released by then. She'll be in theaters all over the country.
Lordy, lordy, lordy.
Yeah, I could hardly believe that myself.
And "Give 'em Hell" Zell Miller (D-GA)
Didn't I read that he is going to speak at the Republican Convention, or did I dream it, LOL?
Please, for the love of God, let him speak at the convention! I hope he goes nuclear on live national television.
Nope, you're not dreaming, it's true!
Seen here practicing her speech on a more mature audience.
TWO QUESTIONS:
1. Will Bill make his famous walk down the hall with cameras on his way to the platform like he did in 2000?
2. Will Al be off his lithium when he speaks like he has been when he's given his last few ranting and raving discourses?
That will be interesting to watch what he has to say at both of them!!
Your donkey kicked up his heels and left!!
is there something wrong with what I did? Would like to know.
That pic is gold!
Nah, Zell Miller isn't going to the DNC convention, he's been invited to the RNC convention!
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