Campaign '08

HONOLULU (AP) ― Senate candidate and former Virginia Gov. 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.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama's rival during the Democratic presidential primaries, is also scheduled to speak that night, Aug. 26. But Warner is being given the plum position, according to an e-mail that Obama campaign adviser Mike Henry sent to Virginia supporters late Tuesday.

Henry's e-mail, which was forwarded to The Associated Press while Obama is on vacation in Hawaii, told Virginians, "we wanted you to be the first to know." It included a quote from campaign manager David Plouffe.

"Mark Warner is not afraid to challenge the status quo to bring people together and get things moving," Plouffe's statement read. "It's that kind of spirit and innovation that resulted in his selection as keynote speaker on a night when the convention program will focus on renewing America's economy."

Some news reports had incorrectly said Clinton would be the keynote speaker -- although the convention committee and campaign always described her as the Tuesday "headliner." Clinton and 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 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 fall election. But Sam Arora, a former Clinton staffer who co-founded a group, VoteBoth.com, that encouraged Obama to pick Clinton as his running mate, said Warner was a good choice.

"Mark Warner is the future of the Democratic Party, and putting him on Tuesday night with Hillary Clinton is exactly right move for Obama," said Arora, who shut down the VoteBoth.com effort two weeks ago under the assumption that Clinton would not be picked. "They highlight Senator Obama's vision and leadership qualities."

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, on the first night, Aug. 25. Barack Obama's half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, also will have a role.

Other opening night speakers include Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, an early Obama supporter, organizers said Tuesday.

Opening night will also feature a tribute to Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, who has taped a five-minute video to air during the party gathering. Kennedy suffered a seizure at his Hyannisport, Mass., house on May 17 and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. 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 Obama's still-unannounced vice presidential candidate.

The theme for Aug. 28, the night Obama formally accepts the nomination at the Denver Broncos' football stadium, is "Change You Can Believe In." Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter will be among speakers that night.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)