DEMOCRATS READY FOR PRIME TIME : CONVENTION TO BLEND MESSAGE WITH SHOW.

Byline: Robert A. Rankin Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

Bill Clinton's biggest challenge at the Democratic convention won't be beating Bob Dole, it will be beating Jerry Seinfeld.

Bob Dole couldn't do it; when he gave what his aides called ``the speech of his life'' at the Republican convention earlier this month, ratings showed that only about 18 million TV viewers watched on NBC, ABC and CBS combined.

TV comic Seinfeld drew more viewers than that to NBC alone the same night - even though his show was a rerun.

To crack through the boredom barrier that shields most Americans from political anachronisms like these conventions and drives them to sitcoms, Clinton and the Democrats plan to fight for the TV audience on TV's terms - with celebrities and razzle-dazzle special effects.

They insist that's not a sellout to entertainment values, it's just a way to get the viewing audience into their tent, where they hope to sell a serious political argument on why Clinton deserves re-election. Their basic pitch boils down to this: He directs the government to help you improve your life.

``Our most important challenge is to make the connection between politics and real life,'' said Ann Lewis, deputy manager of the Clinton-Gore campaign.

Toward that end, the Democrats have devised a two-track strategy. One will feature Clinton on a slow train to Chicago, which starts today and features stops along the way in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, where he will spotlight local ``real-people'' heroes who exemplify his themes in serving their own communities.

Highlights from Clinton's four-day train trip will be beamed into the Chicago convention hall by satellite for both live and video-package displays on a huge 56-panel video screen behind the podium. Prepackaged videos of the local

heroes' stories will vie for viewers' attention with Hollywood's fictional offerings on other channels.

The president will tie his message of benevolent government activism into these personal stories by announcing one new legislative proposal or executive order each day Monday through Wednesday. The first will deal with crime; the second with education and the economy; the third with environmental protection.

Meanwhile, back in Chicago, the glitz begins Monday night. The headliner during television's prime-time viewing hour will be Christopher Reeve, the star of Superman movies, who became a quadriplegic last year after being thrown by a horse and breaking his neck.

Reeve is leading efforts to increase research on healing paralysis. Democratic convention planners believe his campaign illustrates their party's philosophy that government can make a difference for the better.

Also featured Monday will be Sarah Brady, wife of James Brady, the former press secretary to President Ronald Reagan who was brain-damaged by a stray shot during the 1981 assassination attempt on Reagan. Sarah Brady leads the lobbying group Handgun Control, another cause Clinton backs.

Democratic congressional leaders will address the convention Monday night as well, but well before prime time, so don't expect to see much of them on television.

Tuesday night's theme will be ``strengthening the family.'' First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and ``second lady'' Tipper Gore will be featured speakers. Earlier, before prime time, the Rev. Jesse Jackson will speak.

Wednesday will be attack night, when the Democrats try to define their differences from Republicans. Vice President Al Gore will take the high road, boasting of the Clinton administration's achievements, while Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, the party's chairman, will sink his rhetorical teeth into the GOP's record.

After chewing up the Republicans, Dodd will offer Clinton's name formally in nomination, with Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer delivering the seconding speech. The traditional roll call of the states will follow, complete with ritualistic parading by people in silly hats, and for tradition's sake, apparently, convention planners aim to get this done within the evening's prime-time viewing deadline of 8 p.m. PDT.