GOP convention to feature McCain, Schwarzenegger, Giuliani

[mrbowler]

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Senator John McCain, actor-turned-California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) and former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani will be featured speakers at the Republican national convention, a party official said.


The official, who asked not to be named, confirmed a New York Times report that the three had been chosen to make prime-time speeches at the Republican gala in New York that will run from August 30 to September 2.


The decision to spotlight McCain is another apparent effort to tie the maverick politician to President George W. Bush (news - web sites), who will be officially nominated for a second White House term at the convention.


McCain, whose hostility to Bush is well known after their clash for the party's nomination in 2000, is a friend of Democratic candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) who reportedly asked him to run as his vice-presidential candidate.


Schwarzenegger is expected to add Hollywood-star firepower to the political gathering. His credentials as a moderate Republican will also provide a measure of balance to the conservatives that are the core of Bush's support.


The appearance of Giuliani, whose reassuring performance after the September 11, 2001 attacks made him a political folk hero, will hammer home a key theme of the Bush campaign: his leadership in the war against terror.


The president will formally accept the nomination in New York's Madison Square Garden nine days before the third anniversary of the attack that demolished the World Trade Center two miles (three kilometers) away.


The Republican official confirmed the Times report that New York State Governor George Pataki would also make a prime-time speech at the convention, as would Bush's wife Laura and Education (news - web sites) Secretary Rod Paige.


The program was to be officially released on Monday.

[bobbcat]

Democrat Senator from Georgia Zell Miller will also be there.

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