Ted Kennedy Pushing To Speak On Convention Opening Night

August 25, 2008 8:57 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - This year's Democratic National Convention may become even more historic with a speech by a Kennedy. The lion of the Senate, ailing Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), is planning to address supporters of Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) on the convention's opening night, according to reports.

Kennedy, who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer, will be in Denver Monday night, pending final consultation by his doctors. The 76-year old lawmaker has prepared a speech for his appearance, the Boston Globe reports.

An Obama official has also told CNN that top Kennedy aides have instructed the campaign "to presume [Kennedy] is coming and make preparations on the basis of him coming."

Kennedy, the second most senior member of the Senate after Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), underwent brain surgery on June 2 after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. The diagnosis was made after he suffered two seizures in May while at home in Hyannis Port.

He was an active surrogate for Obama before his seizures. His first appearance since his surgery was during a Senate vote on a controversial Medicare bill last month.

A video paying tribute to him is scheduled to be shown during the convention on Monday.

The Democratic National Convention will be held Aug. 25-28 in Denver, Colorado. Michelle Obama, wife of the presumptive Democratic nominee, will headline the opening night, the same day Obama's sister, Maya Soetero-Ng, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and several Illinois state officials are scheduled to speak.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) will be speaking on the second night, followed by Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), as the nominee for vice president, on the third day. Former President Bill Clinton will speak just before the Democratic vice presidential nominee's address.