Friday, March 31, 2006

Detroit putting plans in place

WE’VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

From CrainsDetroit comes this note from a Detroit business breakfast:

[Democratic Detroit Mayor Kwame] Kilpatrick said he, [Republican Oakland County Executive L. Brooks] Patterson and Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano have been meeting to work out a plan to woo either the Democratic or Republican national convention to Detroit in 2008 and that he and Patterson “work together every day. The language of our constituencies often fuels the perception of a fight between Brooks and I that doesn’t exist.” Continue Reading...

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Charlotte still not interested in hosting convention

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Ten weeks after the deadline to accept an invitation to bid for the 2008 Democratic Convention, Charlotte’s mayor has made news:

The city also received an application for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, but McCrory, who’s a Republican, says the city has no plans to submit a bid for that event, either. Continue Reading...

Sunday, March 26, 2006

More thoughts on Denver 4th night proposal

WE’VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

In the previous post, I wrote that Denver is reported to be considering proposing holding the last night of the convention, when the nominee speaks, at a different location than the previous 3 nights. I thought this was a crazy idea for the Denver bid from a logistical and cost viewpoint.

However, a source has told me that Dean has been dropping hints that he would like some sort of “public event” to close the convention week, which could, logically, be the nominee acceptance speech. (It could also just be a big rally the next day). So we may see all the cities come up with proposals like this, and my comment earlier saying “don’t blame Dean for this” may have been premature. Continue Reading...

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Dean indicates Denver should make Final 3

WE’VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

Columnist Rob Reuteman writes in today’s Rocky Mountain News:

Host committee co-chair, Steve Farber has already met with Dean about the city’s bid to host [the 2008 Democratic Convention]: “He’s given us indications Denver should be in the final three.” Continue Reading...

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Union hotels

WE’VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

In one of my earliest posts, I quoted from Harry Shearer on New Orleans:

The radio hosts noted that, though this is an historically Democratic town, only the Reps have ever held a convention here, the “Read My Lips” conclave of 1988. The reason, one of them alleged, was that the Democratic organizers insisted on more rooms in unionized hotels than the city could provide. Continue Reading...

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Denver and Orlando hosting receptions at the DNC Spring meeting in New Orleans

WE’VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

As I wrote last fall, the DNC is holding their regular spring meeting in New Orleans starting on April 20. What’s most interesting is that Denver and Orlando are both hosting evening receptions (on different nights) in support of their convention bids. None of the other cities, even including the host city of New Orleans, has a reception on the schedule. (The schedule could change, of course). For Denver, this is not surprising – they continue to be the most aggressive of the potential cities. But I am surprised by Orlando. I had downplayed their chances, but this reception shows that they are quite serious about going after the convention. And they were the only city besides Denver to announce that first weekend that they were interested in hosting the convention. So Orlando will need to be watched more closely.

And to clarify some things said in the comments, while the members of the DNC to not get to vote on the site selection, clearly their opinions, like those of other key Democrats, will be very important to Dean, and therefore the wooing of the ~440 DNC members will be interesting to watch. Continue Reading...

Monday, March 13, 2006

Convention Technical Advisory Group

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Updated 3/14

From the comments, unconfirmed but reasonable, is a list of the 10 members of the 2008 Democratic Convention Technical Advisory Group. From the DNC: Continue Reading...

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Washington Post on New Orleans and convention dates

WE’VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

I first noted it last week, and Sunday’s Washington Post also discusses that the 2008 Democratic Convention will end one day before the anniversary of Katrina:

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on Aug. 29, so it might not be surprising that there’s already chatter about whether New Orleans will be the Democrats’ choice when the DNC announces the host city this fall. In a poll of 4,000 people by the left-leaning blog Daily Kos, 28 percent voted for New Orleans, while 31 percent selected Denver as their top choice. Continue Reading...

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Convention facilities

WE’VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

This is the latest check of the facilities that may be proposed by the cities planning to host the 2008 Democratic Convention. There are assumptions and estimates here which will be refined as the process moves forward. Note that in all cases, I am still assuming the convention will not be held in a “convention center”. As I’ve said below, the Democrats seem to be requiring an “arena” type setting. Convention centers, being boxy and flat, provide very poor sightlines for the far-away seats, and rarely have the luxury suites that are needed to entertain the VIPs.

However, with some of the large convention centers now out there, I think this issue will need to be revisited. Continue Reading...