THE US: The Democratic National Convention, which starts in Boston on July 26th, will spotlight Senator John Kerry's public service and time in the military with the theme: "Stronger at Home, Respected in the World", the convention chairman, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, announced yesterday. Conor O'Clery reports from New York
Mr Richardson also confirmed a propaganda coup for the Democrats in that the speakers will include Ron Reagan Jr, the son of former president Ronald Reagan, who will use the platform to promote stem cell research.
Notably absent from the list of keynote speakers however is Mr Howard Dean, the former Democratic frontrunner who energised party grassroots with his dissenting opposition to the war in Iraq.
Party organisers on Saturday persuaded activists to drop highly critical language about the Iraq war - for which both the presidential nominee Senator Kerry and his running mate Senator John Edwards voted in 2002 - emphasising instead their ability to get greater international co-operation.
The original language would have declared the conflict a mistake from the beginning, a view now supported by 55 per cent of Americans according to the latest poll.
The decision to move the party to the centre - not just on the war but on social issues - is a high-risk strategy as it could lead to the more virulent opponents of Mr Bush in the Democratic base switching their votes to independent Ralph Nader.
There will, however, be no shortage of passion or virulence in the attacks on the Bush administration.
The first day will include deliveries by former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and by former vice president Al Gore, who has reworked his speaking style to become the most fiery critic of the war in the party leadership.
On the second day Senator Edward Kennedy, also an outspoken critic of the war, and Mrs Teresa Heinz Kerry will lead off a debate on foreign policy.
The third day will feature vice-president hopeful John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, and Senator Kerry will make his acceptance speech on the final day, July 29th.
The Democratic nominee will be introduced by former Senator Max Cleland of Georgia, a fellow Vietnam veteran who lost three limbs during the war, and who has become a symbol of party outrage over his defeat in the 2002 election after Republicans questioned his patriotism.
"The 2004 Democratic Convention will tell the life stories of John Kerry and John Edwards to the nation - the story of their lifetime of service to the nation and fight for average Americans, and their vision for a stronger and more secure America," Governor Richardson told foreign journalists in a briefing.
Getting Mr Ron Reagan Jr to play a supporting role is something of a coup for the Democrats, in the light of attempts by President George Bush to assume the legacy of President Reagan during the funeral services last month.
Governor Richardson said that Mr Reagan would not be making a political speech but would talk solely about the need to make stem cell research a national priority. Scientists believe that the stem cells could help the search for treatment of diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's from which President Reagan died.
Mr Reagan Jr said that his mother Mrs Nancy Reagan approved of his speaking at the convention and confirmed that he will not make a political speech. "If they had asked me to say a few words about throwing George Bush out of office I wouldn't do it," he said.
Meanwhile national security adviser Dr Condoleezza Rice moved to quell suspicions among Democrats that the White House might suspend the presidential election if there was an interruption due to an act of terrorism, an idea suggested to Congress by the new federal voting commission.
"We've had elections in this country when we were at war, even when we were in civil war. And we should have the elections on time," Dr Rice told CNN.