Denver 2008???

4 thoughts on “Denver 2008???”

1. The last I heard was that NYC may be having trouble raising financing for it. That was according to Dan Slater on DemNotes.

   At this point all the cards seem to be in Denver’s hand. I think everyone is in “wait-n-see” mode til the election’s over.

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2. Having lived in cities that hosted the national conventions, my recall is that the only people who make money on the conventions are the hotel and restaurant industries and firms that supply the conventions.

   Taxpayers end up footing the bills for police staffing, fire protection, subsidies and the bribes that go to the national parties that get them to bring their events to the city.

   If NYC won’t bear the expense, why should Colorado and Denver?

   Makes no economic nor political sense.

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3. I’ve said this numerous times, and I will say it again: Denver will host. Denver has to host. Republicans are setting up shop in Minneapolis. Now i dont know if you know anything about Minneapolis, but it is a fairly liberal town (they are about to elect a muslim to congress). The GOP thinks that by setting up shop there they will be able to stem some sort of democratic tide in the Midwest. To counter this the Dems must set up shop in Denver.

   Not only is Denver a blue town, but Colorado is a purple turning blue state. Yeah we have our conservative pockets, but Colorado is going blue. What better way to highlight that, and counter the repubs, than by setting up shop here in town. Having it here will highlight the fact that much of the surrounding area is turning blue as well.

   It is asinine to think that taxpayers will somehow end up with a major debt because of the convention. First of all, how about all the taxes that will be generated from the dining and hotels. Also, this puts a spotlight on Denver, which Denver doesnt get too often. Third, if you are a dem, think about the monetary support that will go to local candidates. Can you imaging if Jay Fawcett got elected? Then in his attempt to keep his position he spoke at the convention? The movey that wold pour into his warchest would be greater than could be imagined. All in all, Denver will host. Denver has to host, and the leadership realizes this. 

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4. Here’s an article in today’s Denver Post. 

   http://www.denverpos…

   Denver favored for Dem parley: 31 state chairs give city the nod.  The decision on the 2008 convention is up to the national chairman. Also in the running is New York.

   By John Aloysius Farrell and Anne C. Mulkern
   Denver Post Staff Writers
   Article Last Updated:10/18/2006 10:15:47 AM MDT

   Washington – An overwhelming majority of the Democratic Party’s state leaders believe their party should make a statement about its Western resurgence and national aspirations by selecting Denver over New York for the 2008 convention.

   Of 36 state party chairs who gave a preference when surveyed by The Denver Post, 31 chose Denver and five New York. Hawaii did not respond; the rest had no clear favorite.

   Democratic Party national chairman Howard Dean will make the final decision, and the opinions of the state leaders are in no way binding.

   And, based on interviews with party leaders, Denver must still contend with a lingering perception that the city is unfriendly to organized labor, and must satisfy the party that it will have the necessary hotel rooms, security and – most of all – cash.

   “Ultimately, it probably comes down to the deal – what the city is able to provide in terms of logistics, money, security considerations, hotels, transportation,” said one chairman whose state has hosted a recent national political convention and who asked to speak anonymously about his experience.

   Denver will have to demonstrate that it can raise $70 million or more. Mayor John Hickenlooper has pledged not to spend public money on Denver’s bid.

   The state party organizations form the core of Dean’s base within the Democratic Party, and a Western convention would spotlight the party’s revival in the region, said many Democratic leaders.

   “Colorado is a great venue to talk about winning the heartland of America and the West,” said Alabama state chairman Joe Turnham.

   “I prefer Denver. That’s where our future lies, quite frankly,” said California chairman Art Torres. “It’s the Rocky Mountain strategy that is going to bring the Democratic Party to the White House.”

   In part because of an influx of Latino voters and Californians into the Rocky Mountain states, and in part because of fissures in the Republican coalition, Democrats have picked up Senate and House seats or claimed statehouses in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Montana in recent elections.

   “It’s very gratifying,” said Debbie Willhite, executive director of Denver’s convention host committee, when told Tuesday night about the tally.

   “We have every indication that Gov. Dean is very favorable to Denver,” Willhite said. “The decision will be based on a lot of nuts and bolts, and we’re right in there with a lot of nuts and bolts.”

   New York, of course, has its committed fans. Even those who like Denver acknowledge that the Big Apple is a national media center, chock full of restaurants and other diversions.

   “New York is New York,” said Nebraska state chair Steven Achelpohl. “You can’t beat the excitement, and it’s a political epicenter.”

   Several state leaders had fond memories of the 1992 New York convention that chose the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton. New York “seems to be where we nominate candidates who later become president,” said Texas chairman Boyd Richie.

   “The energy and excitement that we can generate in our city is unparalleled, and we look forward to working with the Democratic National Committee should they pick New York as their city,” said Jennifer Falk, spokeswoman for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

   In The Post’s survey of 49 states and the District of Columbia, 14 chairs expressed no preference. “I don’t care if we have the convention in Sheboygan so long as we nominate the next president,” said Pennsylvania chairman T.J. Rooney.

   If the opinion of the state chairs is an important factor, then New York’s hopes lie with the uncommitted states, which include some major bastions of the party, such as Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Florida.

   And Denver must still fight the perception that the city is not friendly to unions. Several state leaders said they have been told of objections to Denver by their allies in organized labor because of a lack of union hotels in the city.

   They had not heard that Denver labor leaders later withdrew their opposition, nor that workers at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center have formed a union.

   Still, Denver had broad support across the country. Western governors and party leaders have been pushing the city as a convention site, and 12 Western state chairs endorsed Colorado’s bid.

   And Southern chairs, who can also feel neglected in a party dominated by Northern states, sided with their Western counterparts. Six of the seven Southern state leaders who expressed a preference chose Denver.

   “It is an area of the country we definitely need to reach out to,” said North Carolina chairman Jerry Meek. “And the people of Colorado think more like North Carolina than New Yorkers.”

   Only two of eight Northeastern leaders who had an opinion chose New York. And Colorado came out on top among the Midwesterners who voiced a preference, seven to two.

   Denver Post staff writers Mike Soraghan and Christa Marshall contributed to this report

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