Events to watch at Wednesday's convention

By Bill Schneider and Keating Holland/CNN

PHILADELPHIA (CNN) -- Here are some items to watch for at Wednesday's Republican National Convention:

Ready for prime time? Dick Cheney has been a congressman, a cabinet secretary, a White House chief of staff, a successful CEO and the nation's military chief in time of war. So what? Men with even more impressive credentials have stumbled when they stood before a national audience asking for votes. One big piece of the Bush campaign's strategy will be revealed in Cheney's speech: will he take on the traditional running mate's role of attack dog, or will he maintain a statesmanlike air and leave that duty to others? That may say something about Cheney himself, and even more about just how much attacking the Bush folks plan to do. Will anybody take on Gore and Clinton at this convention? We may find out tonight.

Ready to rumble? Bill Clinton and former President Bush must be getting tired of staying silent on the sidelines for so long. First, Clinton takes a swipe at Bush's son; then, Bush and his wife Barbara threaten to break their silence and retaliate. Some observers think this may be part of a Clinton strategy to goad the GOP into attack mode. If they do, the Republicans may squander the good will they have worked so hard to build up during this convention.

Ready to rock? House Speaker Dennis Hastert is scheduled to appear with professional wrestler The Rock at the start of this evening's ceremonies. Will this make the GOP look like a bunch of hip, fun-loving guys and gals? Or will the history books record this as one of those bizarre convention moments, like Newt Gingrich extolling the virtues of beach volleyball in 1996, or Sammy Davis Jr. hugging Richard Nixon in 1972? Bonus question: who will be the first pundit to make a reference to the fact that conventions and pro wrestling matches are both "fixed?"

Ready to roll (call)?. It's Day 3 of the rolling roll call mini-series (which has apparently been expanded to a four-day event to accommodate all the big states that were forced to pass in earlier rounds.) Will little Wyoming -- Dick Cheney's home -- have the honor of putting Bush over the top by giving him his 1,034th vote? Probably -- but the Bush forces with have to do their math right. Get too many big states to pass and Bush will fall short at the end of the roll call. Too few, and Bush will go over the top before he hits Wyoming.