Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Quick GOP update

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

The deadline to submit bids for the 2008 Republican Convention was yesterday, and four cities submitted bids: Cleveland, Minneapolis, New York, and Tampa/St. Pete. Which means Minneapolis and New York are bidding for both conventions. Since the conventions are in back-to-back weeks, there’s no way for the conventions to be in the same city, so each either city would instantly drop out of the bidding for one convention if they got the other. But New York City Mayor Bloomberg knows the odds of New York getting the GOP convention again is small:

“Typically conventions do not go to the same city two years in a row, but we’re not a city of quitters,” Mr. Bloomberg said at the opening of a Fairway market in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. Continue Reading...

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Should conventions be held in Gulf-coast cities?

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

One of the reasons people have cited for not holding the 2008 Democratic National Convention in New Orleans is “What happens if a hurricane hits”? Well, with Tampa Bay being a major contender for the GOP convention, lets not forget that the following cities have hosted conventions in the past: Houston – 1992, New Orleans – 1988, Miami Beach: 1968 and 1972 (both Dem and Rep). The fact is, the odds of a specific city being hit with a hurricane during a specific week is fairly low, and I don’t think we can expect all Gulf Coast cities to just shut down their tourism business during hurricane season. The Tampa Bay bid for the 2008 GOP convention says:

the chance of a hurricane directly hitting the area while the convention is in town in early September 2008 is too small to affect the decision. Continue Reading...

Friday, April 07, 2006

2012 convention dates

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

2012 Democratic National Convention Site Selection News
2012 Republican National Convention Site Selection News

Taking all this date gamesmanship to its logical conclusion, I think Dean should just go ahead and announce the 2012 Demoratic Convention dates! The 2012 London Olympics end on August 12, 2012, and Labor Day is September 3. I think the Democrats should announce they are holding their 2012 convention starting on August 27, 2012. If a Democrat wins in 2008, the GOP can have their convention the previous week (or even the week before, starting the day after the Olympics end). If the GOP wins in 2008, they can have their convention the following week, starting on Labor Day, just like they are doing in 2008. The tradition of the party in the White House having their convention second is kept, and the Democrats can start their site selection even earlier. Denver, Orlando, and everyone else, interested in hosting the 2012 convention? Continue Reading...

Monday, December 19, 2005

List of cities invited to bid for the 2008 convention

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

Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered has published the list of cities invited to bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Interestingly, there are 35 cities, not the 33 mentioned in news reports:

Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Miami-Dade County, FL, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, OR., St Louis, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC. Continue Reading...