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The Morning Grind / DayAhead |
Edwards arrives
By John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
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VIDEO |
 CNN's John Mercurio on rising stars and Wednesday night's speakers.
 Barack Obama delivers an impassioned keynote address.
 CNN's Aaron Brown on what's on tap Wednesday.
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| MAKING THEIR CASE |  Day Three: Wednesday
• Theme: "A Stronger, More Secure America"
• 4 p.m. ET: Session opens
• 7-9 p.m. ET: Speakers include Elijah Cummings, John Edwards' daughter Cate, Bob Graham, Dennis Kucinich, Ed Rendell
• 9 p.m. ET: Speakers include Bill Richardson, Jennifer Granholm
• 10 p.m. ET: Elizabeth Edwards introduces her husband, John Edwards, for his keynote address
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BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Remember when John Edwards was a "rising star"?
As he takes the FleetCenter stage tonight to accept his party's VP nod, Edwards moves squarely into the elite circle of establishment elders, ceding the coveted but mostly meaningless moniker to a new generation of hopefuls.
Tonight Edwards achieves the goal of all rising stars; he will have risen. But he'll also surrender some of the mystery and promise that accompanies ascendancy. He'll never be young again.
In a seamless transition last night, keynoter Barack Obama ably captured Edwards' star, honoring Democrats with one of the most powerful deliveries of an eloquent speech since, well, Bill Clinton the night before.
"That's it. We're toast," moaned one Illinois Republican, whose party is still searching for someone to run against Obama, in a late-night email to the Grind. "He can have the seat, I'm going to Hawaii."
One "sign" of Obama's success -- CNN's Kelly Wallace says that Obama campaign signs were scarce on the convention hall floor after delegates departed last night. Another sign: actor Ben Affleck and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom were the star attractions at last night's GQ party at the Federalist, but all anyone was talking about was Barack.
(We should temper our praise for Obama with a dose of history: No keynote speaker in the 20th century went on to occupy the White House, either as president or VP -- or even to win the party nomination. Also, Obama's claims to the rising-star title could be mightily challenged tonight by Jennifer Granholm, the Canadian-born Michigan governor.)
For his part, Edwards arrived at the FleetCenter late last night for a brief run-through of his big moment today. He stood at the podium as aides Peter Scher and Sam Myers explained the workings of the teleprompter.
His wife, Elizabeth, was there as well, pointing out where the North Carolina delegation was positioned on the floor. She also spent a few minutes at the podium. Reporters on the floor were held back, but Edwards did offer up that he "feels great. ... I'm ready."
Kerry prepares
Meanwhile, Camp Kerry is breathing easy today, we're told, on the first convention morning with no blaring headlines about Teresa's tongue. (The Boston Herald is reporting on tension between Boston Mayor Tom Menino and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who yesterday said Boston has yet to live up to its promise as a center of racial justice and equal opportunity for minorities.)
Dressed in ketchup red, Heinz Kerry delivered a solid but subdued speech last night, which is winning rave reviews from the coalition of the Kerry converted.
Watching Teresa's speech from his 25th-floor suite in the Wyndham Hotel in Philadelphia, Kerry sat around a coffee table with six aides. Per a pool report, David Morehouse stood in the background with his arms crossed and David Wade hovered nearby.
Kerry sat with his chin in his hand and a manila envelope containing his speech on his lap. Kerry loosely held his glasses in his left hand and he was in his socks, legs crossed, left over right.
Kerry laughed at stepson Chris Heinz's introductory remarks as photographers snapped away. "That's great," Kerry said as Chris wrapped up, nodding. Chris concluded by saying, "If I look that good at 65, I'll be doubly blessed." Kerry laughed. As Chris left the podium, Kerry clapped and said, "Thanks a lot Chris, really well done."
As Teresa took the stage, Kerry said, "She looks great," which he repeated a second time. He was grinning so broadly that his teeth showed and was bouncing one knee looking intently at the TV screen, which we feel compelled to note was tuned to CNN.
After we reported that Kerry said his wife looked "good" on stage, a spokesman told us he'd like to set the record straight -- the senator actually said his wife looked "great," not just "good."
Tomorrow, of course, is Kerry's chance to wow the crowd, and assuming Edwards performs on par with past performances, Kerry will be following three straight nights of gaga performances. So, what's the big guy got in store for his big night?
A senior aide tells CNN's Candy Crowley that Kerry will talk about his "formative moments" and will include personal stories he hasn't previously discussed.
A large amount will be a discussion of national security, in the context of his personal stories, and his commitment to a safer, more secure America. He'll also discuss healthcare, the economy and energy independence as well.
"He wants to show what he is committed to," the aide said.
And finally, he'll talk about the history of "our Boston, our Massachusetts" -- an apparent push-back on his critics' "Massachusetts liberal" tag.
The speech is mostly done, we're told, but "he never stops tinkering" with it.
Is it long? "Well, I hope not too long," one aide said, "but it's definitely not short." (Note: This means LONG).
When he arrives in Boston today, Kerry and about a dozen of his crewmates will take a boat across the harbor and will be met by a crowd of people at Charlestown Navy Yard, Pier 4.
Political video games
Also today, Republicans prepare to release their much-anticipated 11-minute video of Kerry's "doublespeak" on national security and Iraq.
The DNC counter-released a new Internet ad today highlighting the statements Bush has made that Dems say have most eroded his credibility with the American people.
The ad, entitled "Word," was distributed to the press on DVDs outside the GOP counter-convention in Boston and was posted on the DNC website, www.democrats.org.
The ad highlights what the DNC calls Bush falsehoods, on everything from pledging to leave no child behind to health care to having found the WMDs in Iraq.
Deep throat dead?
And finally today, we note the passing of a possible Deep Throat, Fred LaRue, a Watergate figure and high-ranking Nixon administration official, who died of natural causes. He was 75.
He was known as the "bagman" who delivered payoffs to keep participants in the Watergate break-in quiet, and served 4 1/2 months in federal prison for conspiracy to obstruct justice.
He also served as special assistant to John Mitchell, the former attorney general who later headed President Nixon's re-election committee.
