Obama Opening Act for Springsteen?

UPDATE, August 28, 2008: "Star-studded lineup for Obama speech"

The final night of the Democratic National Convention -- an open-air affair at the home of the Denver Broncos -- will feature Barack Obama's acceptance speech, an all-star lineup of entertainers, and perhaps a big-name surprise.

A surprise?

Right.

Does Obama really need to manipulate Americans by promising a surprise?

Not good.
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This is the way it was supposed to go:

Bon Jovi warms up the crowd at Invesco Field on Thursday night.

Then Barack Obama delivers his acceptance speech, as the opening act for Bruce Springsteen.

When Obama finishes, Springsteen does an acoustic performance.

According to the Washington Post, that's not going to happen.

What? Not going to happen?

There's been plenty of speculation (wishful thinking?) in recent days that Barack Obama supporter Bruce Springsteen is going to perform either just before or after Obama's speech in Denver on Thursday.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Sunday that it was a done deal: "Bruce Springsteen will follow Obama with a solo acoustic performance on Thursday after Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field." The Telegraph reported same yesterday, as did the Rocky Mountain News, which said that Jon Bon Jovi will open for Obama with Springsteen closing out the night.

But a source in Springsteen's camp tells The Washington Post that The Boss won't be anywhere near Invesco Field on Thursday.

"He's definitely not performing nor attending and has never planned to do so," says the source, who is privy to Springsteen's schedule.

We know that Springsteen and the E Street Band will be performing at the Harley-Davidson 105th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday in Milwaukee. (Tickets are still available.)

We also know that Springsteen doesn't have any concert scheduled for tomorrow night.

Will he be there? The Washington Post says he will not.

Did the Obama campaign toss out those rumors to help fill up the stadium?

That's pretty sleazy.

Of course, saying he won't be there would be counterproductive if that was the plan.

Maybe Springsteen was concerned that an appearance at the Obama Temple just 48 hours before he performs for tens of thousands of bikers in Milwaukee wouldn't go over too well.

I think the Obama campaign should make a definitive statement about the entertainment for Thursday night's concert... I mean, acceptance speech.

Talk shouldn't be about the musical acts. It should be about Obama.

An acoustic Springsteen performance after Obama's speech doesn't sound like a good idea anyway. Obama as the opening act?

The crowd needs to be fired up in typical convention-style. There should be balloons and confetti and loud music, not an acoustic moment. Then again, I don't think a candidate trying to relate to the working class should be speaking in the temple.

I wonder if there will be fireworks.

(Update: I have learned there will be fireworks.)