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Democrats turn to foreign policy Bill Clinton to address Democrats
(about 1 hour later)
The US Democratic convention in Denver, Colorado, is to turn its focus on foreign policy and security with speeches by Joe Biden and Bill Clinton. Former US President Bill Clinton, whose wife, Hillary, lost her bid to become the Democrat's White House nominee, is due to speak at the party's convention.
Senator Biden, Barack Obama's chosen running-mate for the presidential race, is to deliver the keynote speech. Mr Clinton will be followed by Joe Biden, Barack Obama's running-mate for the presidential race, who will deliver the keynote address.
Former President Clinton is to take to the stage a day after his wife Hillary, Mr Obama's defeated rival for the race. Their speeches come a day after Mrs Clinton urged Democrats to unite behind her victorious rival.
Mrs Clinton called on Democrats to unite behind Mr Obama, saying she was his "proud supporter". Mr Obama is due to arrive in Denver, where the convention is taking place.
Foreign policy is seen by some observers as not being Mr Obama's strong point. Wednesday's addresses are expected to focus on foreign policy and security.
However, according to the Democratic National Convention website, Mr Obama "offers a new, tough foreign policy that is neither Republican nor Democratic, but is a strong, smart American foreign policy". Some observers say the topics have been weak points of Senator Obama's campaign so far.
JUSTIN WEBB'S AMERICA She is the quintessential steely politician now - nothing that has happened to her since New Hampshire (including losing!) has done her anything but good BBC North America editor Justin Webb, on Hillary Clinton class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2008/08/quintessential_political_steel.html">Read Justin's thoughts in full According to the Democratic National Convention website, however, the Illinois senator "offers a new, tough foreign policy that is neither Republican nor Democratic, but is a strong, smart American foreign policy".
Mr Biden is a veteran foreign policy expert chosen by Barack Obama as his running mate partly on account of his experience. Experienced shoulders
Mr Clinton is expected to launch attacks on Mr Obama's Republican rival for the presidency, John McCain, and on the Bush administration, particularly on the state of the US economy. In his address, Mr Clinton is expected to launch attacks on Mr Obama's Republican rival for the presidency, John McCain, and on the Bush administration, particularly on the state of the US economy.
CONVENTION AGENDA Wednesday: Speeches by Bill Clinton and Joe Biden; vote to confirm Barack Obama as party's candidateThursday: Obama to accept nomination with speech in stadium Convention programmeVoters' views on the conventionConvention diary
His speech will be closely scrutinised for signs of lingering resentment over the bruising primary Democratic campaign, which ended in defeat for his wife, correspondents say.His speech will be closely scrutinised for signs of lingering resentment over the bruising primary Democratic campaign, which ended in defeat for his wife, correspondents say.
Senator Biden, 65, is a veteran foreign policy expert who was chosen as vice-presidential candidate by 46-year-old Obama partly on account of his experience.
Mr Obama will headline Thursday's convention speeches, having spent the first part of the week campaigning in battleground states.
He is expected to formally accept the party's nomination ahead of the 4 November election.
'Unite''Unite'
CONVENTION AGENDA Wednesday: Speeches by Bill Clinton and Joe Biden; vote to confirm Barack Obama as party's candidateThursday: Barack Obama to accept nomination with speech in stadium class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7581229.stm">Convention programme class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7574423.stm">Voters' views on the convention class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7582424.stm">Convention diary Speaking at the party's nominating convention on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton said the Democrats could not afford to lose to the Republicans.
Speaking at the party's nominating convention on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton said the Democrats could not afford to lose to the Republicans: She is the quintessential steely politician now - nothing that has happened to her since New Hampshire (including losing!) has done her anything but good BBC North America editor Justin Webb, on Hillary Clinton class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2008/08/quintessential_political_steel.html">Read Justin's thoughts in full
"Whether you voted for me or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose." "Whether you voted for me or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose," she said.
The roll-call vote, in which delegates will have the chance to vote for either Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton as the party's nominee, also takes place on Wednesday. Some of the defeated candidate's supporters have suggested they would not vote for her former rival, but she asked them to remember why they were in the campaign.
Mr Obama will join the convention shortly, having spent the first part of the week campaigning in battleground states. Mrs Clinton accused John McCain of being indifferent to the economic slowdown and of failing to recognise the need for health and social reform.
He is to formally accept the party's nomination on Thursday night for the election on 4 November. Meanwhile, the roll-call vote, in which delegates will have the chance to vote for either Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton as the party's nominee, also takes place on Wednesday.