PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A couple thousand Republican delegates have invaded the birthplace of America this week to follow a script and nominate the next president. They hope.
Many more thousands in the media have joined them, looking to record the event and report on any deviations from that script. If they can find any.
The 37th Republican National Convention opened here this morning for 2,066 delegates, their alternates and some 15,000 members of the media. The GOP has dubbed this four-day coronation of Texas Gov. George W. Bush, its presumptive presidential nominee since March, as “Renewing America’s Purpose, Together.”
Accordingly, every convention night will have a “purpose” theme, supplanting the “compassionate conservatism” that Bush sounded as his rally cry during the primary season.
Tonight, with retired Gen. Colin Powell as featured speaker, Republicans will speak of “Opportunity with a Purpose: Leave No Child Behind.”
Tuesday night, which will showcase Bob and Elizabeth Dole, has been titled, “Strength and Security with a Purpose: Safe in Our Homes and the World.”
Wednesday’s slogan is “Prosperity with a Purpose,” and Thursday night, when Bush gives his acceptance speech, he will be introduced as the next “President with a Purpose.”
But the major television networks offer evidence that the convention has lost virtually all of its dramatic appeal this year and in the recent past.
ABC News will devote only an hour (10-11 p.m.) of primetime programming to the convention on each of the first three nights. On Thursday night, it will offer two hours (9-11 p.m.).
Republican officials have even agreed to a “rolling” roll call of state delegations, starting tonight. Instead of a Thursday night roll call of all states in alphabetical order to nominate Bush, the roll call will be stretched out over four nights. North Carolina probably will cast its 62 votes for Bush either Tuesday or Wednesday night.
Bush is expected to tally the 1,034 votes he needs for a majority on Wednesday night. It’s not even known whether his home state of Texas will be given the privilege of pushing him over the top.
Bush will arrive in Philadelphia Wednesday after completing some recent campaigning in five Democratic-leaning states, including Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. The most recent ABC news/Washington Post poll showed Bush with an 11-point advantage (53 to 42 percent) over Vice President Al Gore, scheduled to be nominated for president at the Democratic National Convention Aug. 13-17 in Los Angeles.
Elizabeth Dole, whose topic Tuesday night will be “the principle of strength through compassion,” will share the primetime spotlight with Bush’s foreign relations adviser Condoleeza Rice and U.S. Sen. John McCain, who put up the strongest challenge to Bush for the nomination.
Earlier in the evening, Bob Dole will make brief remarks and introduce a videotape tribute to “America’s Greatest Generation.” Dole was the 1996 GOP presidential nominee.
Tuesday night also will feature other Republican notables. Former Presidents George Bush and Gerald Ford and former first ladies Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan and Betty Ford are expected to be in the convention hall at the First Union Center to be part of a video tribute to former GOP presidents.
Retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf will speak to the convention delegates live via satellite Tuesday from the deck of the USS New Jersey. His topic: military readiness.
Sharing the stage with many of the Republican dignitaries each night will be what the party labels “ordinary Americans.” Tonight, for example, these Republican supporters will speak on issues such as education, parenting, adoption, foster care and immigration.
When delegates convene for the first time today, they will be asked to approve the party platform. Also, Bush’s name will be placed in nomination.
Rowan County GOP delegates include Norene Foster and Mary Messinger. The N.C. delegation attended a welcoming reception in the Center City Sunday night and held its first business meeting this morning before heading to the convention floor.
They will hold their official delegation caucus Tuesday morning, at which they will meet with advisors to Bush’s presidential campaign. The Bush team, including N.Y. Gov. George Pataki, will highlight the candidate’s views on foreign policy and national defense.
As is standard at political conventions, the N.C. delegation will have at least one reception or party to attend each day of its stay.
Elizabeth Dole will be honored this afternoon at a two-hour party sponsored by the Lifetime Channel, which will air the program at a later date.
NOTES: Dick Cheney, Bush’s choice as a running mate, will be nominated for vice president Wednesday night, when he also will speak ... Laura Bush, the nominee’s wife, will be introduced to the convention today ... Bush actually will address the convention for the first time via satellite today ... The recent ABC News/Washington Post Poll said Bush leads Gore among independent voters and has a slight edge among women ... A lighted boat parade and huge fireworks display on the Delaware River helped to signal the start of the convention Sunday night ... A couple thousand protesters, supporting a variety of causes, peacefully closed down Ben Franklin Parkway Sunday afternoon with their demonstrations ... About 25 groups have permits to protest outside the First Union Center this week ... Rocker Ted Nugent will be in Philadelphia Thursday to promote his book, “God, Guns and Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
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