Monday, June 26, 2006

Minneapolis/St. Paul visit update

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

The 2008 Democratic National Convention Technical Advisory Group is now in Minneapolis/St. Paul. After visiting New York and Denver, the TAG is evalulating the Twin Cities bid to host the convention:

Six members of the Democratic National Committee are visiting the Twin Cities until Wednesday, determining whether Minnesota should host the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
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From a boat tour down the Mississippi River, to a dinner, then to a Pearl Jam concert — the cities are throwing everything they’ve got into this effort
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Officials said the Twin Cities can’t out-perk New York City, but the cities offer the Mississippi River, the new Guthrie Theater and your choice of places that’ll hold the 20,000 people you’d bring here. “I’d like to see someone else do that, because they can’t,” Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak challenged. Continue Reading...

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Logistics keeping cities from bidding for conventions

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

At one point earlier this year, I questioned whether any more than two cities would bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Congressional Quarterly looks at the reasons:

It is hard for officials and boosters of many American cities to avoid getting stars in their eyes when the major parties start soliciting potential sites for their next presidential nominating conventions. The quadrennial gatherings hold out the prospect of revenue streams and days of free publicity — not to mention a chance, perhaps, to share the stage with the current or next president and to hobnob with celebrities from the worlds of politics, media and entertainment. Continue Reading...

Thursday, June 22, 2006

DNC visits Denver

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

The DNC’s Technical Advisory Group is visiting Denver this week to evaluate the city’s bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention:

Officials from the Democratic National Committee were touring Denver on Wednesday to size the city up against three other finalists for the party’s 2008 convention.
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Neither the mayor’s office nor the host committee has made the bid documents public, but Mayor John Hickenlooper’s office insists local tax funds will not be used. “We are adamant that the host committee cannot come back to the city” for money, said Katherine Archuleta, the mayor’s chief operating officer. Continue Reading...

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Denver TV report on DNC visit

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

Denver’s local CBS station reported on the DNCs Technical Advisory Group’s visit to Denver to evaluate the city’s bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. See the report here.

Posted by Matt at 11:34 AM Continue Reading...

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Denver site visit preview

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

The TAG visits Denver this week:

A Democratic National Committee team begins arriving in Denver this evening for a three-day tour to determine if the Mile High City has the right stuff to host the 2008 presidential nominating convention. Continue Reading...

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Minneapolis site visit preview

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

The Technical Advisory Committee will be visiting Minneapolis/St. Paul starting on June 26 to evaluate their bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The AP provides a preview:

They’ll be treated to a $20,000 reception at the Walker Art Center. They’ll also find $500 worth of flowers in their hotel rooms and they’ll each go home with gift bags valued at $200, according to documents obtained by the Star Tribune.
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Greg Ortale, the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association president, wouldn’t make the bids public, citing an exemption under the state public records law. But he said the two parties want everything from venue to transportation free. Ortale estimates the tab to be $53 million, with $15 million coming from the federal government. Continue Reading...