On Monday night, Caroline Kennedy is to introduce a video of her uncle, Ted, and then Michelle Obama takes the stage. Tuesday night is for Senator Hillary Clinton.

Perhaps the trickiest night will be Wednesday, which promises to be the busiest (and perhaps the most tumultous). It will include the roll call, in which Mrs. Clinton’s name will be placed in nomination alongside Senator Barack Obama; a speech by Bill Clinton, and the speech of the vice presidential nominee.

Several marquee senators, including John Kerry, and Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico are to speak, and there will be various other goings on.

The night raises many questions: Who gets prime time? And what is the big story the next day? Remember, although the convention is in the middle of the country, it is to unfold on Eastern time, all the better for television, which is what it’s all about.

Here’s the early line. The roll-call, a necessary bit of business to accomplish and a staple of political theater, will take place as the convention opens Wednesday night, from roughly 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. (all times are Eastern).

That’s when Mrs. Clinton’s supporters are scheduled to have their “catharsis” moment. It will unfold during the local news and the network evening broadcasts on the East Coast. If anything goes awry, and convention planners are downplaying that possibility, it will be covered but overshadowed, they hope, by the vice presidential speech.

Mr. Clinton is scheduled to speak sometime between 9 and 10. That’s what they call “cable time,” not bad but not prime time. The convention planners have helpfully designated Wednesday as “Securing America’s Future” night, which means Mr. Clinton has an assigned topic.

Various senators are to speak that night too, and the exact schedule has not been worked out. There will also be a big tribute to the military before the vice presidential nominee speaks, scheduled now for around 10:30, in time for the 11 o’clock news.

The next night, of course, is Mr. Obama’s speech at Invesco Field. Al Gore will speak first, but not to introduce Mr. Obama. That’s one of the remaining mysteries of the week. Any guesses?


NY TIMES