I just got a call from a local reader who has a fair complaint. For all the talk about the Democratic National Convention, which begins today in Denver, it’s hard to find a decent schedule of speakers. Although this particular caller doesn’t have Internet access, it’s even hard to find a clear schedule of events and podium speakers on the Web. (To see the official DNC Web site, click here.)

Of course, this is not a particularly new issue for conventions. They are worse than the Academy Awards when it comes to staying on schedule, so why commit to one?

In any event, it’s clear the focus of the first day will be to shore up support among women. Rep. Nancy Pelosi will be formally gaveling the convention open sometime after 2 p.m. (PST) and will offer more formal remarks sometime closer to the end of the first segment from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. (PST)

The most interesting events will occur in that critical 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. primetime slot.
Speakers will include (sometime around 6:30 p.m. PST) Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, who helped build the Obama momentum with her endorsement in January. Kennedy will offer a tribute to her uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and recently completed radiation and chemotherapy. Kennedy will also offer some videotaped remarks.

Some time after that (around 7:30 a.m.) will come the remarks from the headline prime-time speaker Michelle Obama, Barack Obama’s wife.
Does Obama need more support among women? It’s possible.
Remember, On Super Tuesday, which included the California presidential primary, Sen. Hillary Clinton defeated Obama 53 percent to 43 percent among women. Among Caucasian women, she beat him 60 percent to 36 percent.
But a recent Wall Street Journal poll showed Obama leading Sen. John McCain among women 48 percent to 39 percent.

– Paul Gullixson