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Sen. Clinton Headlining Convention's 2nd Day

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The Associated Press

Published: August 11, 2008

HONOLULU - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will headline her own night at the Democratic National Convention, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign announced Sunday in a nod to her strong second-place showing in the party's presidential primary.

The former first lady will speak on the second night, Aug. 26 - the 88th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. The campaign and convention committee in a statement called her "a champion for working families and one of the most effective and empathetic voices in the country today."

The Obama campaign is trying to avoid hard feelings among the New York senator's supporters at their carefully orchestrated convention. But they still haven't reached a deal on whether Clinton will be included in the roll call vote for the nomination, which could make the party appear divided heading into the final stretch of the White House race.

One Clinton adviser, speaking on a condition of anonymity because speech preparations are being kept private, said she wants to deliver a "forward-looking" speech that pays homage to the historic nature of the primary between a black candidate and a female candidate without dwelling on the divisions. Clinton told her supporters that she is seeking a way for her delegates to be heard at the convention and to be united after the hard-fought nominating contest.

"Because I know from just what I'm hearing, that there's incredible pent up desire. And I think that people want to feel like, 'OK, it's a catharsis, we're here, we did it, and then everybody get behind Sen. Obama.' That is what most people believe is the best way to go," she said, according to video of a recent speech to a private gathering taken by an attendee and posted on YouTube.

Other convention speakers are:

•Obama's wife, Michelle, will headline the opening night on Aug. 25. The high-profile appearance is a chance for the potential first lady to help explain her husband to voters in the most personal terms.

•The yet-to-be-named vice presidential pick will speak on the third night as is the tradition.

•Bill Clinton also will speak on the third night, Aug. 27.

Obama is expected to become the party's first black presidential nominee on the fourth and final night. It happens to be the 45th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

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