Tuesday, December 12, 2006

The waiting game

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

The Rocky Mountain News summarizes where we are:

Denver boosters are buzzing with anticipation as a decision on whether the city will win the 2008 Democratic National Convention is expected this week. The bids have been filed and the two finalists, Denver and New York City, are fine-tuning their master contracts, which must be approved before the Democrats’ presidential nomination bash is awarded. Continue Reading...

Sunday, December 10, 2006

How to bid for a convention: Loudly or Quietly

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

As I touched on last week, Denver and New York are pursuing their bids to host the 2008 Democratic Convention in very different ways, Denver being very upfront and public, and New York doing their stuff mostly behind the scenes. The Denver Post expands on the topic:

The two cities bidding to host the Democratic National Convention have done so with styles that could not be more different. Continue Reading...

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Western Senators endorse Denver

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

Ten Western Senators and Senators-to-be endorsed Denver’s bid to host the 2008 Democratic Convention:

Holding the convention in Denver would help cement the party’s recent political gains and “send a powerful message that the Democrats are ready to fight for a Democratic majority nationwide and for a new direction for America,” said the letter.
…
The letter noted that since 2002, Democrats have won GOP-held governorships in Montana, Kansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. Last month, Democrats also picked up a Republican-held Senate seat in Montana and GOP-held House seats in Colorado and Arizona. Continue Reading...

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Denver confident about bid

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

The leaders of Denver’s bid to host the 2008 Democratic Convention are confident leading into a potential decision this coming week:

Denver 2008 Host Committee leaders are confident they have persuaded the Democratic National Committee that the city has the right stuff – money, hotel accommodations and union representation – to showcase the presidential nomination bash for 35,000 visitors. “We think that we’ve got over the obstacles,” said Steve Farber, an influential Denver attorney and co-chair of the host committee. Continue Reading...

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Reid on Denver

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

The Denver Post reports that Senate Majority Leader-To-Be Harry Reid cryptically says that “progress is being made” on behalf of Denver’s bid to stage the 2008 Democratic Convention.

But he said that “it’s a difficult decision” for party chairman Howard Dean, given New York’s advantages as an experienced, well-funded convention town. Continue Reading...

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Denver reserves 18,000 rooms

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

According to the Denver Post, the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau has guaranteed the DNC at least 18,000 of the roughly 38,000 local hotel rooms, all within a 16-minute drive of downtown, for the 2008 Democratic Convention.

It’s Denver announcing money, and Denver announcing hotels. Is Denver feeling insecure against New York, the veteran convention city, and therefore feels they have to announce everything while the quietly confident New York gives their information privately to the DNC? Or is Denver just checking off the final items on their todo list? We should know in a week or two. Continue Reading...

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Dean on convention site choice

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

DNC Chairman Howard Dean was interviewed by the Denver Post on his upcoming decision on where to hold the 2008 Democratic Convention, and there were three items that stood out:

1. The decision will not be coming this week, as had been implied. Dean: “I have to go to Europe next week, and when I come back, hopefully, we’ll be ready to announce it.”
2. The DNC visited both Denver and New York last week, and are meeting with Denver again this week.
3. Dean says on his choice: “I am not leaning any different way”

Looks like we’ll have to wait another week for a decision. Continue Reading...

Saturday, December 02, 2006

NY Times: New look for party drives Denver’s bid

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

No new news, but the Times provides a good overview of Denver’s bid to host the 2008 Democratic Convention:

In the competition between Denver and New York City to play host to the Democratic Party’s presidential nominating convention in 2008, Denver officials readily admit to being the new kids on the block. New York, they say, has advantages in fund-raising, experience in running national conventions and a track record of success for the Democrats.
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But if Denver prevails this time — a decision is expected by the end of the year — party members from around the country say it will probably be by virtue of a polished and highly organized effort to turn the city’s lemons into lemonade. A new location, Denver’s convention-bid organizers have argued to the party hierarchy, is precisely what the Democrats need. Continue Reading...