Committee Of Correspondence

The Democratic National Convention

Herb Stein
3:17 p.m.  Friday  8/23/96

As we look forward to the opening of the Democratic Convention in Chicago on Aug. 26 a number of questions arise. Can the Democrats be as successful as the Republicans seem to have been in establishing themselves in the center without alienating their more extreme partisans? Is there room at the center for both Clinton and Dole? Can both parties claim to be totally inclusive and still significantly different from the other? Can the Democrats match the glamour of Nancy Reagan, Colin Powell and Elizabeth Dole? Will the public feel that it has had enough convention for the year and tune out entirely? Will Ted Koppel leave in a huff and go to San Diego? Will this be the last jumbo convention, and if so will that be too bad?