WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Convention will feature nightly themes and town-hall style questions from residents of eight cities, including Denver, Democratic leaders said Monday.
The convention will be “incredibly exciting and innovative, one like we’ve never seen before,” Kansas governor and convention co-chairwoman Kathleen Sebelius said Monday in a conference call with reporters.
On Aug. 25, Michelle Obama, in a speech titled “One Nation,” will give the “the Barack Obama story,” Sebelius said.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will speak Aug. 26, when the theme will be “Renewing America’s Promise.” She will address economic challenges facing Americans, including jobs, paying for homes and college, and access to health care, Sebelius said.
The theme for the night of Aug. 27 at the convention will be the contribution of veterans and a “tough new foreign policy.” The vice-presidential nominee will speak that night.
Sebelius declined to say whether Clinton’s speaking on Tuesday night of the convention meant she would not be the vice presidential nominee, nor whether Wednesday’s theme pointed toward a vice presidential nominee with military or national-security experience.
Potential running mates who fit that bill include Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican who recently traveled with Obama to Iraq; Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who traveled with Obama to the Middle East; Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a former U.N. ambassador; and former Sen. Sam Nunn, a Georgia lawmaker who chaired the Armed Services Committee.
“Nothing should be read into the themes or issues or ideas” about each night and the choice of vice president, Sebelius said.
Democratic leaders did not say whether or when former President Bill Clinton would be speaking. But they confirmed that neither former presidential candidate John Edwards nor his wife, Elizabeth, would be speaking.
Obama will speak the night of Aug. 28 at Invesco Field at Mile High.
The town-hall portion of the convention will include both live and taped questions from Americans.
The taped questions will come from citizens in Atlanta; Denver; Columbia, S.C.; Detroit; Philadelphia; Raleigh, N.C.; Richmond, Va.; and Tampa, Fla.
The description of the program as “America’s Town Hall” drew a sharp response from Tom Kise, a Denver-based regional spokesman for GOP Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign.
“Since he became the nominee, Barack Obama ignored John McCain’s invitation to have real town-hall meetings around the nation,” Kise said in a statement. “When Obama does hold town-hall type events, they are with his hand-selected fans and not undecided voters.”
Convention speakers
PEPSI CENTER
Aug. 25: “One Nation”: Michelle Obama
Aug. 26: “Renewing America’s Promise”: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Aug. 27: “Securing America’s Future”: Vice presidential candidate
INVESCO FIELD
Aug. 28: “Change You Can Believe In”: Sen. Barack Obama
“AMERICA’S TOWN HALL” QUESTIONS
Text and video questions can be submitted at through Aug. 27.
Denver residents also will have the opportunity to record their questions and individual stories in person at an “open call.” Times and locations will be posted to as they are scheduled.
