Annotating McCain's Convention Schedule

John McCain's convention team unveiled an outline of his nomination week today. It's a first draft; more speakers will be added later.

The first speaker is not even a Republican. No Republican congressional leaders are speaking. Few current office-holders. Fewer Republican candidates. Many formers. The list is heavy with McCain endorsees and friends. Few ideologues. No Gov. Mark Sanford. No Sen. John Thune.

Monday night -- "Service"

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. -- Unless he's VP, he's the first face of the McCain convention. Will he bash Democrats? Repudiate his own party? Or praise McCain's courage.

Vice President Dick Cheney -- Talk about a head-snap for conservatives. But the two speeches ought to be similar.
 
In primetime: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- Does he agree more with Obama than with McCain on most issues?

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush - In primetime -- although not network primetime. Nice move adding Laura...still very popular.
 
Tuesday night -- "Reform"

Gov. Tom Ridge  -- not being vetted, according to Mark Halperin. Was a stalwart McCain supporter from the get-go.

Gov. John Huntsman, Jr. -- McCain's favorite Utahn.

Former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin -- the McCain campaign had few Republican women surrogates and even fewer Hispanic Republican women surrogates; Marin was one of them.

Sen. Fred Thompson -- until he ran for President, he was making fundraising calls on McCain's behalf.  Spoke of entitlement reform in the primaries.

Gov. Linda Lingle -- a moderate Republican

Fmr. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele  -- GOPAC's guy, and McCain's top African American surrogate.
 
Gov. Sarah Palin - a reformist governor of Alaska

Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee,-- He's a great speaker. And a Sam's Club Republican.

Fmr. Mayor Rudy Giuliani ***KEYNOTER*** -- He was bellicose in 2004 (and effective.)  Think results. Metrics. 9/11 hero. Pro-choicer.

Wednesday night -- "Prosperity"
 
Sen. Norm Coleman -- the only endangered Republican incumbent with a better than even shot at keeping his seat.

Meg Whitman, Ebay CEO -- cited by McCain as a person whose advice he listens to. A future CA gubernatorial candidate.

Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO -- longtime McCain surrogate.

Fmr. Gov. Mitt Romney -- A great rah-rah speaker. Will he get a huge pop? Remember, this is a big McCain crowd...
 
Cindy McCain -- interesting that Michelle Obama speaks Monday; Cindy speaks Wednesday.
VP nominee

Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La. will speak after the VP nominee -- another man of color in primetime for the Republicans. WIll talk about reform and New Orleans.
 
Thursday night -- "Peace"

Gov. Tim Pawlenty  -- The new face of the GOP.

Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Fla. -- He's owed this spot for his endorsement of McCain. Still a very popular (now pro-drilling) governor of Florida.

Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas -- Nominally ran "against" McCain in primaries.

Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla -- McCain was initially angry that Martinez didn't endorse

Sen. John McCain.