Letter: Denver, not NYC

Senators' support gives boost in fight to host 2008 DNC

Daniel J. Chacón, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 6, 2006 at midnight

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More Denver Democratic National Convention 2008

Senate leader Harry Reid, of Nevada, and three other Democratic U.S. senators are backing Denver's bid to host the 2008 party convention, calling the West the new frontier for the Democratic Party.

Reid and Sens. Ken Salazar, of Colorado, Max Baucus, of Montana, and Jeff Bingaman, of New Mexico, endorsed the Mile High City in a letter to Howard Dean, the Democratic National Committee chairman.

"Denver is a smart, convenient and stunning setting for our 2008 platform," the senators wrote in the 1 ½-page letter, dated Sept. 26.

The endorsement is the latest boost for Denver, which is now competing only with New York City.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, considered by some a front-runner, was automatically knocked out of contention when the Republican Party chose it to host its convention.

Two days after the GOP announced its decision, Denver's chances to land the Democratic convention got even better. The city lacked a union hotel - an important consideration for the DNC - but workers at the Hyatt Regency Denver said Friday they had unionized. "The momentum is building every day, not only locally and regionally but nationally," said Denver City Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth, president of the Denver 2008 Host Committee.

"People are saying, 'Denver, Denver, Denver,' " she said.

Jennifer Falk, a spokeswoman for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, declined to comment.

But, in a statement, Falk said: "New York City has a proven track record of hosting world-class mega events, and we look forward to working with the Democratic National Committee should they pick New York as their city."

Debbie Willhite, executive director of Denver's host committee, was on business Thursday in Washington, D.C., and said the buzz there about Denver is "extraordinarily positive."

"The stars are lining up because Denver has a strong bid and people want to come there," she said in a telephone interview.

The four senators said the West is an exciting place for Democrats and offers "great promise" for the 2008 presidential nominee.

"With growing frequency, voters are electing Democratic candidates to represent them," the letter stated. "We have Democratic governors in Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Arizona, control of at least one house in most Western state legislatures and growing Democratic representation in Congress."

They also wrote that "for the first time in many years," the Democratic Party's presidential nominee would have "an excellent chance of winning several Western states, which would secure enough key Electoral College votes to restore our leadership in the White House."

Endorsements: Denver vs. New York

Democratic heavyweights are taking sides in the selection of a city to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Denver's supporters: Sen. Max Baucus, of Montana; Sen. Jeff Bingaman, of New Mexico; Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, of Nevada; Sen. Ken Salazar, of Colorado; and Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal.

New York City's supporters: Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer, Rep. Charles Rangel and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, all of New York.Source: Denver And New York City 2008 Host Committees

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