Patrick speech set at convention

Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will get a speaking role at the Democratic National Convention's second night, joining a growing roster of party heavyweights, party officials announced this afternoon.

Patrick, one of Barack Obama's closest surrogates, will be among those speaking about strengthening the middle class and will "share how Obama’s policies have been directly shaped by the people he has met as he traveled the country."

Patrick campaigned for Obama in the key early voting states of Iowa and South Carolina, and they borrowed from each other's rhetorical flourishes.

There has been speculation that Patrick, a former US assistant attorney general for civil rights, might join an Obama administration or even seek a Supreme Court appointment, but he has said he plans to seek reelection as governor.

Also set to speak on Tuesday, Aug. 26 are former Governor Mark Warner of Virginia, who will give the keynote address; Hillary Clinton, who will give the "headliner" prime-time speech; Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, both early supporters of Obama; Governors Ted Strickland of Ohio and Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, both supporters of Clinton; and Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Federico Peña, former Mayor of Denver and Secretary of both Energy and Transportation, who will speak about energy and the economy.