POSTED: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 - 10:30am
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 - 10:44am
(CNN) — The speaker schedule for September's Democratic National Convention in Charlotte had two big names added Tuesday, when the event's organizers announced first lady Michelle Obama would speak on opening night and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro would deliver the keynote address.
The convention committee said Castro's speech will mark the first time a keynote address is delivered by a Latino at a Democratic convention.
"As mayor, Julián Castro has worked tirelessly to move San Antonio forward by building its economy from the middle out, not the top down, by putting the city on a path to being a leader in the new energy economy and making innovative investments in education to prepare San Antonio's students for the jobs of the future," wrote Los Angeles Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa, who is the 2012 convention chairman. "That's the same vision forward for the middle class the President has, and it stands in stark contrast to Mitt Romney, who's ready to return us to the same policies that crashed our economy."
President Barack Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, launching him onto the national political stage. In 2008 former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner delivered the keynote at the Democratic Convention in Denver.
Michelle Obama also spoke on the opening day of the 2008 convention. In a statement Tuesday, Villaraigosa wrote the first lady was an "inspiration to millions of Americans."
"As the person who knows him best, she will offer unique insights into the President as a husband, father and a leader over the last four years," Villaraigosa wrote.
On Monday, Democrats announced that former President Bill Clinton would play a prominent role at the convention by giving a major speech and placing President Barack Obama's name into nomination.
The former president will give a primetime speech on Wednesday, September 5, in which he is expected to starkly lay out the differences in the economic policies of the two parties and describe why Obama is the best choice compared to presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney, a Democratic source said.
Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Massachusetts, will also speak on Wednesday evening.
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