Democratic Convention Watch: Convention schedule taking form

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Convention schedule taking form

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The below information is from late July.
Hints are starting to come out about some specifics of the convention schedule.

First, as we noted yesterday, Terry McAuliffe hinted that Hillary Clinton would speak on Tuesday.

Now, comes some unofficial confirmation as CBS news announces their convention coverage plans:

Based on the preliminary schedules for the conventions, CBS News plans three hours of live coverage in prime time, anchored by Couric, for each convention, including the acceptance speeches: Tuesday, Aug. 26, through Thursday, Aug. 28 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT each night) from each site in Denver and Tuesday, Sept. 2, through Thursday, Sept. 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT each night) from St. Paul.

If Clinton speaks on Tuesday, it's likely the Keynote speaker will be on Monday, without broadcast network coverage. Of course, the Keynote speaker is no longer a big event at a political convention. I mean, who can even name the keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic Convention?

With Obama speaking on Thursday, we only have the following major events to be scheduled:

Presidential nominating speeches and Roll Call. One reporter on a sunday talk show suggested they schedule this for the morning. That's unlikely, but I wonder if the don't schedule it to end at 6:30 EST on Wednesday, so that they have a great convention demonstration celebrating the nomination of Obama just as the network news shows go on the air.
VP nominating speech. A Roll Call is unlikely.
VP speech - Wednesday night? ~~I don't think this has ever been done before. Or, the more usual, Thursday night, as a warm-up act.~~ A little research shows the VP speech for the Dems has been given on Wednesday since 1996. It was on Thursday in 1992 and earlier.
U2?
Bruce?

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Mark Miller · 872 weeks ago

They can't schedule ANYTHING for the morning.

The convention convenes at 4 pm every day. There are all kinds of caucus events already scheduled for earlier on all four days. Here's the whole schedule:

MON 10-12: African-American Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, Ethnic Council, APIA Caucus, Native American Council
MON 12-2: GLBT Caucus, Senior Council
MON 2-4: Rural Caucus
TUES 10-12: Women's Caucus
TUES 12-2: Faith Council, Disability Caucus, Youth Council
TUES 2-4: Veterans & Military Families Council
WED 10-12: African-American Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, Ethnic Council, APIA Caucus, Native American Council
WED 12-2: GLBT Caucus, Senior Council
WED 2-4: Rural Caucus
THUR 10-12: Women's Caucus
THUR12-2: Faith Council, Disability Caucus, Youth Council
THUR 2-4: Veterans & Military Families Council

I suppose one or more of these could be canceled, but I find it highly unlikely that they would have released this schedule if there were a possibility of doing convention business earlier in the day.

What we have been told is that we will be free following the delegation breakfast, until 4 pm on each day of the convention.

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Ed Espinoza · 872 weeks ago

Anyone who thinks that scheduling changes don't take place at a convention probably hasn't ever been to a convention before. Why, I hear that this year they are planning on a last-minute change to move the convention outdoors on the last day. But hey that'll never happen because there's some stuff already scheduled for that day, right? Right?!?

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Mike · 872 weeks ago

"VP speech - Wednesday night? I don't think this has ever been done before"

Actually, it is normally done Wednesday night. In 2004 Edwards spoke Wednesday and Kerry spoke Thursday.

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Leah 85p · 872 weeks ago

Republican Orin Hatch's song for Ted Kennedy WILL BE played at the Democratic Convention.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/29/h...

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Ed Espinoza · 872 weeks ago

Gore spoke on Weds night in 1996 and, in what was essentially a coronation of him as the heir apparent to Clinton, gave a rousing speech against big tobacco. He proceeded to follow that up by making out with Tipper on stage at the 2000 convention.

No word yet if McCain will smack Cindy on the ass this year to try and claim equal attention.

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1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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DocJess 71p · 872 weeks ago

Will John call Cindy that cute epithet he has for her? So endearing....so very JOHN.

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Matt 75p · 871 weeks ago

Next time I post i should do a little research. Until recent conventions, starting with 1984, the VP wasn't even announced until Thursday morning so obviously the VP spoke on Thursdays. But that's clearly changed. Going back through the archives, I found the VP speaking on Thursday from 1976 (and I'm sure before) through 1992. But in '96, '00 and '04, the VP has given his speech on Wednesday, and so a new convention tradition has been born. I will update the post.

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