Wednesday, November 09, 2005
New Orleans update
WE’VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com
Both parties are going to talk about New Orleans, but I don’t think either party will end up there:
A Maryland congressman is urging his fellow Democrats to hold the party’s 2008 presidential nominating convention in New Orleans as a signal of national support for the city after its devastating losses from Hurricane Katrina.
…
Democratic members of the Louisiana delegation immediately embraced the idea, although party officials were noncommittal and no mention was made that the convention is scheduled for the heart of the hurricane season and would end one day before the anniversary of the date that Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
…
Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, said he has already suggested to Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman that the party hold its 2008 convention in New Orleans.
Not only that, the host city usually puts up a lot of money to host, and I think New Orleans should have higher priorities.
More from Roll Call:
Cummings joined a chorus of Democrats who already have an opinion about which city should play host, with the sentimental favorite being New Orleans, which was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. The GOP made a similar statement in 2004 when it scheduled its convention for New York City, just days before the third anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“My first choice would definitely be New Orleans, assuming it would be prepared for a convention in those three years,” Cummings said. “We need to do everything in our power to show New Orleans and that region that they have not been forgotten and make sure that we pump every dime we can into their economy.”
“There would be tremendous symbolic value to doing it somewhere in the Gulf region,” added a senior Democratic House aide. “The only question is, will [those cities] be able to absorb a major influx of people?”
Posted by Matt at 10:33 PM 
New Orleans update2005-11-09T22:33:00-05:00MattNew Orleans|