Bayh, Biden to speak at Dem Convention

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind. will address the Democratic National Convention on the night the vice presidential candidate is scheduled to speak, Bayh's office said.

Bayh reportedly is on the short list of possible running mates for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as is Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, also scheduled to speak on Aug. 27, Gannett News Service reported Thursday.

The theme for that day at the Denver convention is national security, fueling speculation that Obama's running mate would have national security credentials.

Bayh worked to develop his security chops through his memberships on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees. Biden chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is an acknowledged expert on foreign policy.

Liberal bloggers recently organized a page on Facebook, a social networking site on the Internet, to oppose Bayh becoming Obama's running mate because the Indiana senator was one of the first Democrats to back President George Bush's request to use force against Iraq.