Convention at a Glance

George Bush and Dan Quayle were renominated as the Republican National Convention reverberated with a barrage of attacks on the Democrats. Labor Secretary Lynn Martin, an abortion-rights supporter who was chosen to nominate Bush for a second term, called Bill Clinton “the latest in the long line of whimpering naysayers.” But the steady attacks showed no sign of eroding Clinton’s lead in the polls. An ABC News/Washington Post poll, released Wednesday, showed that the President had dropped 2 points in the last week. Clinton now leads Bush by 58% to 33%, the poll said. But the drop was within the poll’s margin of error, meaning the shape of the race is statistically unchanged. First Lady Barbara Bush called the entire family on stage after her speech praising her husband as “the strongest, most decent, most caring, the wisest and, yes, the healthiest man I know.” The President broke tradition and appeared at the convention hall with her and the whole family, but he did not give a speech.

In other news:

* AIDS Victim Asks for Help: The GOP also heard a gripping appeal from Mary Fisher, who begged for more federal funds to fight the disease. Fisher, the daughter of a prominent GOP fund-raiser and a mother of two, contracted the disease from her ex-husband. “Two hundred thousand Americans are dead or dying; a million more infected,” she said. “ . . . But despite . . . good intentions and bold initiatives, campaign slogans and hopeful promises . . . it’s the epidemic which is winning tonight.” Many delegates had tears in their eyes, including former President Gerald R. Ford and his wife. But others seemed indifferent or even hostile.

* Will the Real Bush Stand Up? The President began his political career as a Barry Goldwater Republican, switched to a moderate stance, then back to a conservative one. At one point, while he championed family planning and abortion rights as a Texas congresssman, he earned a nickname: “Rubbers.” Longtime observers of his career say he sees nothing wrong with reinventing himself whenever he has to run for office. But this time, he has a four-year record that is difficult, if not impossible, to alter.

* Four More Years . . . In 1996, Dan Quayle hopes to garner the GOP nomination himself--but he has a lot of company. Jack Kemp, Patrick J. Buchanan, Phil Gramm--the list is long and almost certainly incomplete. But the way the aspiring presidents look at it, after Nov. 3, George Bush is either a dead duck or a lame duck.

TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE

All times Pacific Daylight

5:52 to 6:07 p.m.: Former President Ford

6:12 to 6:22 p.m.: Sen. John C. Danforth of Missouri

6:29 to 6:44 p.m.: Quayle’s acceptance speech

6:54 to 7:09 p.m.: Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas

7:20 to 7:50 p.m.: Bush’s acceptance speech

TV COVERAGE

C-SPAN, CNN, PBS: 5 to 8 p.m.

CBS: 6 to 8 p.m.

NBC: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

ABC: 7 to 8 p.m.