DNC: Michelle Obama expected to bring ratings with Democratic convention keynote speech

Michelle Obama is expected to be a big ratings hit at the virtual Democratic National Convention next week, when she delivers the keynote speech on the opening night.

The convention, which begins on Monday 17 August and finishes on Thursday 21 August, was originally scheduled to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before it was shifted online due to restrictions forced by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Obama, the former US first lady, will deliver the keynote speech on Monday, while Jill Biden, the wife of the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, will speak on Tuesday and former US president and Ms Obama’s husband Barack Obama will deliver the keynote on Wednesday.

Although they have not yet been announced, Mr Biden’s running mate will deliver a speech on Wednesday, before the former vice president accepts the Democratic nomination the following day.

Gretchen Whitmer and Kamala Harris, who are two of the frontrunners to be Mr Biden’s running mate, have also been scheduled time to speak during the week in case they are not selected, The New York Times reported.

Before Ms Obama’s keynote speech on the opening day of the convention, New York governor Andrew Cuomo will give what is expected to be a critical address on president Donald Trump’s response to the pandemic.

Bernie Sanders, who was Mr Biden’s closest challenger for the Democratic nomination before he pulled out of the race in April, will also deliver a speech on Monday, just before Ms Obama gives her address.

Establishment Democrats will feature heavily at the conference, and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee in the 2016 presidential election, is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, and her husband, former US president Bill Clinton, will deliver a speech on Tuesday.

The Times reported that notable entertainers are scheduled to perform at the convention throughout the week, but they will not be announced until closer to the event.

Mr Biden is scheduled to accept the nomination on Thursday at an as-of-yet unknown location near his home in Delaware.

Despite a number of high profile speakers, Ms Obama’s keynote speech is expected to be the most watched of the week, Democratic officials told the Times.

Ms Obama has reportedly told some of her friends that she views the speech as her major contribution to November’s election, but details of what it includes are being kept under wraps.

The former first lady has been filming the address at her vacation home in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, over the last week and the speech reportedly finishes on an uplifting note.

Although there is anticipation of high ratings for her address, the Times reported that networks are frustrated that Ms Obama will not be delivering the speech live.

Historically, networks cut away from the convention during pre-taped segments so that they can deliver analysis, but with the conference virtual this year, they will struggle to do so as many speeches may be recorded prior to the airdate.

In order to give the convention a more exciting visual tone, Democratic officials have asked some speakers to deliver their speeches from visually interesting locations, instead of just at their desks, according to the Times.

The Republican National Convention, which will take place a week later, has still not confirmed many of its speakers and Mr Trump has not yet decided where he will accept the nomination.

The event, that will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina and online, will include speeches from multiple members of the president’s immediate family.

Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka Trump are all rumoured to be keynote speakers, while first lady Melania Trump and vice president Mike Pence are also scheduled to address Republicans during the week.

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