Help for DNC fundraising?

Picking nominee expected to boost effort to come up with cash

By Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Thursday, May 15, 2008

/ Associated Press

Barack Obama.

/ Associated Press

Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Settling the question of the Democratic Party's presidential nominee should help kick-start the lagging fundraising efforts for the party's national convention in Denver in August.

At least that's the hope.

"We are waiting for the prospective nominee to get in play because we think that will help us in our endeavor," Mike Dino, head of the Democratic National Convention host committee, said at a forum Thursday morning sponsored by the Downtown Denver Partnership.

The host committee needs to raise about $50 million but is only about halfway to that goal.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper told City Council members this week that his "greatest fear" was failing to raise the money to pay for the convention.

The Denver 2008 Host Committee must raise $40.6 million by June 16, according to its contract with the Democratic National Convention Committee, but Hickenlooper acknowledged that the task has proved difficult. The committee had "almost" $25 million in the bank and another $5.5 million in pledges, he said.

Furthermore, committee members believe they actually will need to raise $50 million to avoid red ink after the convention, which will be held at the Pepsi Center from Aug. 25 to 28.

At the forum, held at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Dino said the economy and the protracted primary fight between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have affected fundraising. He said it has affected overall planning for the convention as well.

"It complicates things a little bit," Dino said. "The bottom line is I think we are really well on track to host this convention."

Many political observers believe Obama will win the nomination and that the only remaining question is how - and when - Clinton will bow out.

"The big question is, will this be resolved before it gets here?" Dino asked. "I think it seems to be pointing that way."

Dino said the committee has twin goals - to be great hosts for a "wonderful national event" and to spark a community celebration.

Work under way

A summary of Denver's preparations for the Democratic National Convention, according to the DNC Committee:

* Design plans for the convention hall are under way. Alvarado-Turner-HOK, an association of three local companies with experience in large-scale projects and events, including the 1996 Democratic National Convention, (above) was awarded the construction management contract.

* Audio, lighting and scenic designs are complete and initial designs for the podium and stage have been drawn up. Once the party has a nominee, a production team is ready to put the nominee's stamp on the look and feel of the convention hall.

* Nearly 200,000 square feet of media space has been allocated. Initial plans are complete for pavilions outside the Pepsi Center (above) to provide workspace for many of the nearly 15,000 members of the media expected to attend.

* Delegations and participants have reserved 17,000 hotel rooms in the Denver metro area. The Hyatt Regency Denver, a union hotel, was selected as the DNCC's official headquarters hotel.

* The convention selected 55 bloggers who will be credentialed through the DemConvention State Blogger Corps to provide localized coverage to their readers.

* The convention has reserved 250 buses for daily transport between official convention hotels and the Pepsi Center. General Motors provided about 400 motor pool vehicles to transport U.S. House and Senate leaders, DNC and DNCC officials, and state party chairs.

* The convention has chosen 900 "Green Team" volunteers from the Host Committee volunteer pool to assist with recycling, composting and waste minimization.

• May 16, 2008

  8:50 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  davies writes:

  Hey DenverDan: "The Denver 2008 Host Committee must raise $40.6 million by June 16, according to its contract with the Democratic National Convention Committee, but Hickenlooper acknowledged that the task has proved difficult."

  Time to pony up, so Denver can host the next Pres. Go Obama!

• May 16, 2008

  8:52 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Gene writes:

  Translation; Dino the big green fundraiser has got his hands full of nothing until the party calls out Johnny the Silky Pony to smile and accept number 2 and raise big green from 1/2 of the 2 Americas.

• May 16, 2008

  12:19 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  MrCrush writes:

  Now why would I give one red cent to these yahoos? God save us all from these useless Democrats.