Kennedy and the Democratic Convention - *Update

originally posted 2008-08-24 03:16:16 -bumped - cho

Updating this post with news at the end to reflect reports that Senator Ted Kennedy will be attending the Convention in person this evening.

The 2008 Democratic Convention begins Monday. McClatchy's David Lightman writes in Convention tribute a last hurrah for Kennedy generation:

Chances are that Monday's tribute to Sen. Edward Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention will end with a clip of his pledge to the 1980 convention: "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die." For many, however, once the last Kennedy brother leaves the American political stage, the hope and the dream will live a little less vigorously.

Lightman notes, it is likely the last convention that a Kennedy of that generation will address. While we have heard Kennedy will not be able to attend in person, there is this little nugget in the article:

The 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat taped a five-minute video message recently at his Cape Cod home to be shown at the Denver gathering. But, said Frank Mankiewicz, a top adviser to Robert Kennedy, "I have a feeling he could be there."

Read the rest of the article for a short look back on the life of Senator Ted Kennedy. Update: We knew Senator Kennedy had videotaped a speech for the Democratic Convention since his ability to be in Denver was uncertain due to the treatment of his recently diagnosed brain tumor. This announcement was made early in August. Over the weekend, news coverage hinted at the possibility of a live appearance. Today we learn Senator Kennedy is in Denver. From the Associated Press:

Kennedy arrived in Denver Sunday night and got a checkup at a local hospital. He plans to attend to watch a video tribute to him and may even address the convention if he feels up to it, said a senior Democratic official who talked on the condition of anonymity. "He's truly humbled by the outpouring of support and wouldn't miss it for anything in the world," said Stephanie Cutter, a Kennedy spokeswoman.

And more from Politico:

The senator’s arrival, reported by NBC news, added a note of surprise and an emotional high to what’s typically a carefully staged affair. Barack Obama's campaign is hoping for a surprise appearance in the convention hall by the ailing party elder who has sought to pass his family's torch to the young senator from Illinois with a January endorsement that electrified his campaign. ... "Things are day to day," the Kennedy source said, saying Democrats shouldn't count on his presence. His spokeswoman, Melissa Wagoner, called an appearance "extremely unlikely." But another two people familiar with the plans said Kennedy was likely to appear, with one putting the odds at "better than 50 percent."

Sounds like a great teaser leading up to the opening evening of the convention, maybe a way to get more folks to tune in to find out.