It's show time for Obama and McCain at U.S. conventions

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By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It's show time for Barack Obama andJohn McCain, with back-to-back presidential nominatingconventions offering them tightly-scripted spectacles designedto polish their images and highlight their messages.

The four-day Democratic and Republican conventions over thenext two weeks will be a mix of pep rally and infomercialfeaturing carefully choreographed nightly programs thatspotlight their life stories and campaign themes -- and whatthey see as their foe's weaknesses.

"The conventions provide a big national spotlight for bothcandidates, a chance to have the stage when voters are actuallypaying attention," said Democratic consultant Chris Kofinis, anaide to John Edwards during his 2008 presidential run.

"It is an incredible opportunity to tell the Americanpeople your vision for the country and what you will do aspresident -- and that can change the dynamics of the race," hesaid.

Obama kicks things off for Democrats in Denver on Mondayand accepts the nomination with a prime-time, televised speechon Thursday, August 28. Republican McCain opens his conventionfour days later in St. Paul, Minnesota, and accepts thenomination on September 4.

It is unclear whether the back-to-back schedules willproduce voter fatigue or offer an easy way to compare andcontrast messages. For many voters, the conventions are thefirst time they tune into the general election race.

"It will be the showcase showdown," said Republicanconsultant Kevin Madden, an aide to Mitt Romney in his 2008presidential campaign. "They are finished with just tellingvoters about themselves -- now they have to show voters theyare ready to be president."

The conventions, along with looming vice presidential picksand head-to-head debates scheduled for late September and earlyOctober, are the biggest events on the calendar before McCainand Obama square off in a November 4 presidential election thatpolls show is tight.

The original purpose of national party conventions -- tochoose White House candidates and adopt party positions on keyissues -- has evolved into political theatre in recent decadessince the nominations are decided months in advance.

Both Obama and McCain hope their four days in the spotlightgive them a measurable surge in opinion polls, known as"bounce." The Republicans could cut short any Obama surge byholding their convention so quickly after the Democrats.

LIFE STORIES

The Democratic convention will feature a heavy dose ofpeople who have shaped Obama's life and people he has met alongthe campaign trail in the past 18 months, with an emphasis onusing the gathering to help organize a grass roots volunteerarmy, organizers said.

Obama will cap the gathering with his acceptance speech inDenver's 75,000-seat football stadium in what the campaignhopes is a momentum-generating climax.

But Democrats learned their lesson in 2004, when John Kerryearned no boost in the polls after a convention that focused ontelling his own story and refrained from heavy attacks onPresident George W. Bush.

"There is definitely going to be a contrast drawn betweenthe two candidates," said Jenny Backus, Obama's conventionadviser. "This convention will make the choice crystal clearbetween two very different approaches to leadership."

Some Democrats said Obama, 47, a first-term Illinoissenator, has more work to do spelling out specifically what hismessage of change means to the average voter.

"The real open question is what is he going to do? He hasto take that question head-on in this convention and make itclear in an unequivocal way what the two or three prioritiesfor his candidacy are," said Simon Rosenberg, head of theDemocratic advocacy group NDN.

"I don't think Americans have a clear sense of what hisplan for the American economy is. That is something they canfix at the convention, and they need to do that," he said.

Obama has tried to quell any uprising from the supportersof his vanquished primary rival New York Sen. Hillary Clinton,giving the former first lady and her husband, former PresidentBill Clinton, speaking roles at the convention and a chance toput her name in nomination.

McCain, a four-term Arizona senator and former Vietnamprisoner of war, will press his campaign-trail theme of drawinga sharp contrast between his record and what he calls therelative inexperience of Obama.

"Obama is cotton candy, it tastes great but you can't liveon it. McCain is meat and potatoes," Madden said. "Theconvention will be an opportunity to offer that clearcontrast."

With polls showing low approval ratings for Bush and manyincumbent congressional Republicans in trouble, at least fiveRepublican senators are skipping the gathering to focus ontheir own re-election bids.

Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney will speak on theopening night, and Democrats hope to make the most of theirappearances.

"If McCain wants to distance himself from the Bush era, Idon't think the convention will do that. It's going to undosome of the good work he has done in the last month," Rosenbergsaid.

(Editing by Alan Elsner)