After GOP Gathering, Democrats Have A Tough Act To Follow

WASHINGTON (Aug. 19) -- With the Dole-Kemp ticket getting a big bounce from its convention in San Diego, the pressure is on the Clinton-Gore campaign to follow suit.

It was a dramatic moment four years ago when Bill and Hillary Clinton walked from their hotel into the Democratic convention at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Now, their aides are trying to recreate that feeling at next week's convention at Chicago's United Center.

Hollywood producer and controversial presidential pal Harry Thomason, who choreographed the New York walk, has been brought back to stage the Chicago arrival. He and his wife, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, are also producing a new convention video, the sequel to the "Man from Hope" film that introduced Clinton to a nationwide audience in 1992.

Sources say Thomason and White House deputy chief of staff Harold Ickes, who is in charge overall, are working out a carefully staged, but brief prime-time appearance by the president at the convention Wednesday night, before the nominating roll call.

But they have been frustrated by technical and security concerns. Gone, for example, is a planned boat ride across Lake Michigan to Chicago's Navy Pier. It's been replaced by a more routine helicopter flight from Michigan City, Ind., where the president's four-day heartland train ride will wind up.

And some aides don't think it's necessary to be overly creative this time, noting that presidential arrivals are always dramatic. By keeping it simple, they say the campaign will avoid making big mistakes.

Mrs. Clinton is scheduled to speak Tuesday night, and the pressure is on because of Elizabeth Dole's generally well-regarded performance in San Diego.

"This is not a campaign between first ladies," said Clinton campaign spokeswoman Ann Lewis. "Mrs. Clinton will play a prominent role at the convention. It is her host town. She's welcoming us to Chicago. I think she will, as always, do well and make us proud."

Aides say Jesse Jackson will also speak, but not during prime time.

The president's aides concede the Republicans did a good job in San Diego, but they say the White House has a plan to neutralize Dole's boost in the polls. That includes three bill-signing ceremonies this week at the White House, increasing the minimum wage and reforming health insurance and welfare.

The welfare bill is opposed by many liberal Democrats, but sources say the president will announce, at both the signing ceremony and at the convention, that he will try to improve it next year, if there's a Democratic Congress.

This story originally appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics."

After GOP Gathering, Democrats Have A Tough Act To Follow

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