Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Host city poll over at Daily Kos

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

I’ve got a post and a poll over at Daily Kos. Vote for your choice to host the 2008 Democratic Convention.

Results as of 1:00 PM EST 2/16/06: [November poll results in ()] Continue Reading...

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Orlando Update

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

The Orlando Sentinel has a some interesting notes on Orlando’s bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. As I’ve noted, Orlando is trying to go after both conventions:

As Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty readies his pitch to bring the Republican National Convention to Orlando, he is also readying the GOP heavy hitters who will help him sell our locale.
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But remember, the Orange County Convention Center isn’t going after just one national convention in 2008. It wants both. That means Democratic Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando will have to get his team ready as well. Continue Reading...

Saturday, February 11, 2006

A dozen cities interested in the convention?

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

The Denver Post wrote today that “About a dozen other cities have some interest in hosting the convention”, but I’d really be interested in seeing where they got that information from. Most cities are not talking, and the DNC says an official list of cities accepting an invitation to bid to host the 2008 Democratic Convention is not being released.

But in the same article, Dan Slater, vice-chairman of the Colorado state Democratic party, does say Orlando, New Orleans and Detroit are all at least mulling a bid. As stated below, there’s been no news that either New Orleans or Detroit accepted the invitation to bid to host the convention, but I’m getting the feeling that a number of cities are interested in hosting – we just don’t have any confirmation yet. Continue Reading...

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Denver announces intention to host convention

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

Denver is keeping up the PR offensive, with Mayor John Hickenlooper announcing the city’s intentions to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention:

“One hundred years ago – in 1908 – the nation looked to Denver as Democrats nominated one of America’s greatest orators, William Jennings Bryan,” the official letter of intent reads. “It would be a great honor – and an historic event – for Denver to host the Democratic National Convention again a century later.” Continue Reading...

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Superbowl: Done…. Convention: Next?

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

In the wake of the Superbowl, lots of discussion on the web today about Detroit hosting the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The Discuss Detroit message board weighs the pros and cons:

We should definitely bid for a political convention….this is all tourism dollars that our region desperately needs. Money is money. We need to not only bid for large things like that, Super Bowl, etc, but smaller conventions as well. I would imagine since we are now on the map as a fun city, more conventions may be in the works.
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A bid for the Democratic National Convention requires the ability to put many millions in hard cash into DNC coffers, in addition to putting millions of dollars of city services in play. Detroit could not assuredly raise the many millions last time (and so lost the bid to Boston – which also struggled)and has less ability now. Also, a political convention is all about very low hotel rates (as opposed to the Super Bowl) and catered affairs for the delegates (no restaurant effect, then). Couple that with the cash money the DNC demands and the free services the City would have to put out and you have a recipe for disaster. Continue Reading...