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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK

August 24, 2008

MONDAY

Michelle Obama, who has been essentially muzzled by the campaign since February when she ruffled feathers with candid comments about finally being proud of her country, has a coming-out party. Look for her to reintroduce herself to a national audience while telling the story of her life with her husband.

Prime-time speaker: Michelle Obama

Other key speakers: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Barack Obama's sister Maya Soetero-Ng and brother-in-law Craig Robinson, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. Plus a tribute to Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).

TUESDAY

Since the beginning of her campaign, Hillary Rodham Clinton thought this week would be her soiree. So watch if she aims to rally the party around her former rival or sends a signal to her supporters that she's still fighting.

Prime-time speakers: Clinton and Virginia Senate candidate Mark Warner

Other key speakers: Ten governors, including David A. Paterson, along with Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn) and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.

WEDNESDAY

Obama's vice presidential nominee, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, makes his big speech. But like his wife on Tuesday night, Bill Clinton will be in the spotlight. Pundits and commentators are sure to judge his loyalty to the Obama cause.

Prime-time speaker: Biden

Other key speakers: Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the 2004 nominee; Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

THURSDAY

Since his 2004 convention speech, Obama has gone from an Illinois state senator to giving speeches before six-figure crowds in Europe. He will need to convince skeptical voters that despite his relative inexperience he can match Sen. John McCain on foreign policy. The speech, the first major party acceptance address by an African-American, will make history the moment it begins, and Obama should have no trouble energizing the crowd of 75,000 adoring supporters at the Denver Broncos' football stadium.

ON TV

C-Span will carry every conceivable convention event, starting each day at 7 a.m. and concluding when the last speech ends, which should be around 11 each night. The cable news networks - CNN, MSNBC, Fox News - will carry live coverage each night starting at 7. PBS will broadcast the entire convention live each night, but ABC, CBS and NBC plan to air three to four hours of live coverage spread across the week.