Line-up for US convention unveiled

Senate candidate and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner is scheduled to deliver the Tuesday night keynote address at this year’s Democratic National Convention – the same role that launched Barack Obama to national prominence four years ago.

Senator Hillary Clinton, Mr Obama’s rival during the Democratic presidential primaries, is also scheduled to speak that night, August 26, but Mr Warner is being given the plum position.

Some news reports had incorrectly said Mrs Clinton would be the keynote speaker - although the convention committee and campaign always described her as the Tuesday “headliner”.

Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama advisers have been in delicate negotiations over her role at the convention, with some of her reporters calling for her name to be put in nomination because of her strong second-place showing.

Giving Mr Warner the prime role could be viewed as a slight to some of those supporters as the Obama campaign is working to build unity going into the autumn election.

Mr Obama’s wife, Michelle, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be the featured first-night speakers at the convention.

Michelle Obama will be introduced by her brother, Craig Robinson, a former basketball star at Princeton and now coach at Oregon State. Mr Obama’s half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, also will have a role.

Other opening night speakers include Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill, an early Obama supporter.

Opening night will also feature a tribute to Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, who has taped a five-minute video to air during the party gathering.

Mr Kennedy suffered a seizure at his Hyannisport, Massachusetts, house on May 17 and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. He underwent surgery and recently completed a six-week course of chemotherapy and radiation.

The opening night theme is One Nation. The Tuesday night theme is Renewing America’s Promise, while Wednesday’s is Securing America’s Future, with an acceptance speech by Mr Obama’s still-unannounced vice presidential candidate.

The theme for August 28, the night Mr Obama formally accepts the nomination at the Denver Broncos’ football stadium, is Change You Can Believe In. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter will be among the speakers that night.