Democratic speakers in Boston have done a great job of retelling the biography of Sen. John Kerry.

But when he steps on the stage tonight to accept his party’s nomination for president, Kerry must move beyond his life story, as compelling as it is.

As anyone who has paid any attention so far to the presidential campaign surely knows, Kerry is a highly decorated Navy veteran who fought in the Vietnam War. He’s had a long career in the Senate, and he’s rich.

What people are looking for is a better idea of Kerry’s vision. Information is out there on his particular policy positions. Those inclined can find detailed examinations of Kerry’s health care proposals, his views on guns, stem cell research and every possible campaign issue. But most people haven’t bothered to seek them out.

Kerry has the opportunity to discuss his specific ideas and wrap them into a comprehensive exploration of how John Kerry’s America would differ from George Bush’s.

There’s much to address, especially Iraq, national security, health care and the economy. Platitudes won’t do.

Democratic speakers have spent this week building up the narrative of John Kerry and attacking the performance of President Bush. There have been great speeches and not-so-great speeches and a lot of chatter in between, but whether anyone has been watching is a big question. The broadcast networks ignored the goings-on Tuesday night altogether and provided only an hour of coverage the other nights. Ratings have been low. And so far, the only guaranteed viewers have been energized partisans on both sides and an estimated 15,000 journalists covering the convention in Boston.

The audience tonight will likely be bigger and more diverse, and include more of those undecided voters who are willing to give Kerry a chance.

Millions of dollars have been spent by both campaigns in an attempt to define the other guy. Voters have had 3 years to judge President Bush on the national stage. Tonight, Kerry gets the chance to make his case in front of a large, national audience as the Democratic nominee. He needs to introduce himself, his ideas and his plans. He needs to be specific, and he needs to avoid convoluted oratory. He needs to talk to America.

To balance all these demands will be a tough task. Tonight, Kerry faces one of the most important tests of his political career. Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens and everyone else should watch and make their own judgments about what John Kerry has to say.

Soaring profits

Anthem Inc., the company that runs Maine’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and the only company to bid on participating in the Dirigo health plan, announced its profits for the second quarter Tuesday.

They’re up 34 percent. For the first half of the year, the company’s net income increased 45 percent, the Associated Press reports.

According to the governor’s office, between 1996 and 2002, the cost of a family policy for Maine businesses and employees increased by 77 percent. What’s happened to your insurance premiums in the first six months of 2004?