CONVENTION PREVIEW

	July 28, 2000
	The purpose and nature of political conventions has changed, we look at those changes now, first through the eyes of a co-chairman of the Republicans' event, Andrew Card, Margaret Warner talked to him yesterday about what the organizers have in mind.

MARGARET WARNER: Welcome Andy Card. ANDREW CARD, Republican Convention, Co-Chairman: Thank you, Margaret. Good to be with you. MARGARET WARNER: Good to be with you. What is it you want the American people to take away from this convention week? ANDREW CARD: This convention is about renewing America's purpose and renewing America's purpose together. Governor Bush will be coming into town not just to accept the party's nomination, but also to convey to the people across America exactly what the principles that he stands for are -- and will do that over the course of the four nights of the convention, the first night will focus on opportunity with a purpose, leave no child behind. There will be an emphasis on education. We'll hear from spectacular speakers like the first lady of Texas, Laura Bush and General Colin Powell. On Tuesday we'll talk about strength and security with the purpose, and then we'll hear from Condoleeza Rice, Governor Bush's now security advisor, Elizabeth Dole and the closing speech that night will come from Senator John McCain. On Wednesday evening, unprecedented but Republicans will have the vice presidential nominee Dick Cheney deliver the ultimate speech of the evening, and that evening's activities will focus around prosperity -- prosperity with a purpose. It will be a very powerful night because we'll also hear from small business leaders and people involved in the new economy in America. And then on Thursday night, that will be Governor Bush's night, and this will be the night we identify a president with a purpose, Governor George W. Bush. And we'll summarize the week's activities here from real Americans, some celebrities, have some entertainment and most importantly listen to his wonderful acceptance speech. MARGARET WARNER: Are you trying to convey to the American people that the people they're going to see on the podium are the Republican Party of today? ANDREW CARD: Well, this is a convention that's more than just about the Republican party. This is about the principles that we stand for. And there will be a number of people on that stage who personify the kinds of issues that Governor Bush has been talking about. So some of the people that will be talking to Americans won't necessarily be Republicans. They won't necessarily be involved in the political process as politicians. They're people living the policies that Governor Bush wants to highlight. And so this will be a different kind of convention. It will be an upbeat mood to it, lots of music. We won't have the traditional speech trashing the other team, bashing the other team. Instead we're going to focus on the positive, accentuate the positive. Yes, there will be a contrast but this is about renewing America's purpose and Governor Bush is the one to do that. MARGARET WARNER: Now, how about members of your party, leading members of your party farther on the right, religious conservatives or members farther left, is the public going to see any of either of them? ANDREW CARD: Well, you are going to hear from all kinds of Republicans. And some people who aren't Republicans at this convention. This is clearly a situation where Governor Bush has solidified the base of the Republican Party. Right now the polls show that 93% of the Republican base is together, supporting governor Bush and Dick Cheney in this quest. And this convention will be about reaching beyond the traditional ranks of the Republican Party to touch Americans who really understand the need for kinds of principles that Governor Bush wants to bring to office. MARGARET WARNER: But is it fair to say, for instance, that you won't have a pro-life speaker just to be pro-life, just to choose one issue? ANDREW CARD: That's fair to say. We are not discussing those kinds of issues in detail. Instead we're talking about the issues that most affect people across the country: Education, leaving no child behind. That's very important. We'll hear from teachers, parents, we'll hear from community activists. We'll hear from people involved in foster childcare and adoption. MARGARET WARNER: Why have you decided to take such a different tact from conventions in the past? ANDREW CARD: We've got a different kind of candidate running for President. Governor Bush has been leading in Texas in a way that brought the Republican Party together, but more importantly, he brought their legislature to work together and in a bipartisanship way, he brought meaningful reform in education, did a lot on tax policy. He restored a lot of hope and opportunity for people disenfranchised by the political process. And that's the same kind of leadership that he will bring to America once he becomes President. MARGARET WARNER: Thousands of protestors are also convening on Philadelphia. Do you expect those demonstrations to be disruptive of the convention or affect the convention at all? ANDREW CARD: Well, we've been working very closely with the city of Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania and the state of New Jersey, and the state of Delaware. We know that these demonstrators are exercising their First Amendment rights. We hope that they don't protest - instead they demonstrate - but we don't want them to be disruptive to our particular party and what we'll talk about in the convention. We're going to count on the city of Philadelphia to help to make sure the convention comes off as we expect it will. MARGARET WARNER: Finally, as you know, polling is suggesting that fewer Americans than ever plan to watch this convention or either of the conventions. I think it's the Vanishing Voter Project at Harvard found that 43% said they don't plan to watch this. Is the way you're designing and choreographing this convention designed to try to bring those viewers in? ANDREW CARD: It's a different kind of convention because we have a different kind of candidate running for president. If you watched the convention before and were turned off, turn this one on, you're going to really like it. If you haven't paid attention to a convention before, turn this one on. It is going to be wonderful. MARGARET WARNER: So your job really was to design a television show more than a convention in the traditional sense? ANDREW CARD: This convention also has a very important responsibility. You know you cannot become your party's nominee for President without going to a convention and getting the votes from the delegates. We have an important responsibility as a party to cast our votes by delegates for our nominee. But it's also about talking about the principles that that candidate wants to talk about in the fall. Renewing America's purpose is the theme of Governor Bush's campaign. It isn't a theme we pulled out of the sky. It reflects the kinds of things he has been talking about over the course of his campaign. I went back before I started this convention activity and read Governor Bush's policy statements during the course of the primary season. And what jumped out at me is that he wants to talk about opportunity with a purpose and strength and security with a purpose and prosperity with a purpose. And clearly his goal is to renew America's purpose. We're going to do that together here in Philadelphia. MARGARET WARNER: All right. Andy Card, thank you very much.