By Tim Funk, The Charlotte Observer –
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Sen. John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, are among eight prominent Democrats added to the roster of speakers Monday for the Democratic National Convention.
Also speaking:
—California Attorney General Kamala Harris;
—Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who hosted the party’s 2008 convention as Denver mayor;
—Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who is running for the U.S. Senate;
—Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association;
—Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick;
—Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland;
Before his election as mayor of Chicago, Emanuel was President Barack Obama’s White House chief of staff.
Kerry chose Obama to be the keynote speaker at the 2004 convention in Boston that nominated Kerry for president and then-Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina as vice president.
And Kaine was chairman of the national Democratic Party in 2011 when it was announced that Charlotte would host the convention.
Hickenlooper and O’Malley, meanwhile, are among those who have been mentioned as possible 2016 contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The convention in Charlotte will be Sept. 4-6, culminating with the president’s acceptance speech at Bank of America Stadium.
