Posted on 05/30/2008 7:26:31 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
Millions of dollars behind in raising money and unlikely to meet a fast-approaching final deadline, the Denver committee hosting the Democratic National Convention is considering spending cuts.
Committee sources say they are working with the Democratic National Convention Committee to consider lowering the $55 million in private cash and donated services that must be raised to bring the convention to town. The cuts would be made to the many parties the host committee is obligated to throw for the delegations and the news media, and other hospitality functions not tied to production aspects inside the convention hall.
"There have been no specific decisions made," host committee spokesman Chris Lopez said. "We're always identifying costs and weighing them against our anticipated revenue."
Lopez said the committee is still working to satisfy its full obligation.
Steve Farber, a Denver lawyer leading the host committee's financial charge, agreed, saying, "I continue to believe we are going to raise the money."
With less than 90 days to the convention and no way to stage it elsewhere, the shortfall in funds could mean the Democratic Party's plan to showcase itself in a smaller city will result in making do with less.
The development could likewise hurt Denver's desire to showcase itself, both in the civic programs it wants to stage during the convention week and in future bids.
"It's never good to not deliver the goods," said Eric Sondermann, a political analyst in Denver.
Sondermann says he thinks it's understandable that the money has been hard to come by because potential donors have been reluctant to step in without a clear Democratic presidential nominee. The problem is worsened by the possibility that a vote on the convention floor might be what settles the question of whether to seat delegates from Florida and Michigan.
Also, Denver has fewer corporate headquarters than past host cities, and fewer also than St. Paul, Minn., where the Republicans are holding their convention — and where fundraising is on schedule.
"But whether those are accepted as reasonable explanations years down the road when the particulars of 2008 are forgotten and Denver is making an application for some major event, time will tell," Sondermann said.
$15 million short of June goal
Host committees often struggle with fundraising until much closer to opening day, when big-city mayors and big-state senators and other political powers come to the rescue. But Colorado lacks that kind of clout, and the host committee leadership within the last week and a half concluded the full $55 million could be impossible to fulfill.
DNCC spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth declined to discuss the matter but said in a statement, "We are always reviewing our budgets and plans to ensure we are being fiscally responsible and budgeting efficiently and effectively throughout the planning period."
The host committee sources didn't specify an amount they wish to cut. But committee officials are $15 million short of the $40 million in cash they are contractually obligated to raise by June 16.
The committee also must raise $15 million in donated services, which, if those aren't offered, must be bought. The value of donated services offered to date has not been released.
The committee never established an $19.5 million line of credit it agreed to in its contract with the DNCC. Officials had said they didn't think it would be necessary. Now those officials say it would be impossible to establish.
Mayor John Hickenlooper has frequently commented about the "backbreaking" work of trying to raise the money. Earlier this month, he said, "I'm not sure I could put in any more time. There's weekends, there's nights. My 5 1/2-year-old's ready to ship me off to Siberia."
He declined to comment for this story.
Denver's committee missed its first milestone in June 2007 by $1.5 million but hit its second deadline in December with $15 million. It missed its third deadline March 17 by $5 million, and has raised only $2 million since then.
Moral of the story? Never trust a Democrat with the nation's checkbook
Sounds like they’ve already made a deal with Clinton to pay off her debt.
Wait a minute: democrats NEVER cut spending! They should raise taxes on their members first!
This happens EVERY election season. They simply are incapable of staying within a budget...ON ANYTHING.
In 2004, Boston lost business during the convention due to scaring the tourists away and delegates mooching off of 'hospitality suites' rather than digging deep and eating out.
They should cancel the convention and have a cage fight instead.
No Rules, no holds barred, 15 minutes of verbal attacks before letting the candidates loose on each other.
I hope those doing business with them are accepting CASH ONLY...
In a typical year, the town votes against the override. Then, after the vote, the town re-examines its bufget and typical "finds" the $300,000 (or whatever) that they had been hoping to get in the tax increase.
This year, it was so obvious that the override vote would fail that they decided to take it off the ballot and not even make the attempt. And, yes, they "found" about $300,000 the next day.
Exactly. Democrats cutting spending? Well, I guess there’s always a first time ...
Or maybe they’re just trying to scare people into donating more.
For God’s sake, Don’t cut the police force guarding the people from the thugs that will be every where in Denver!
If they were really "green", they would use their techie dudes to host the first virtual teleconvention...but they are too addicted to being in front of the big cameras, in front of a big crowd, blathering campaign nonsense.
And then...at the release of thousands of ozone-destroying balloons...as the motivational music cranks up...as the last blowhard has blorted his spiel...out will walk the messiah, newly-crowned, possibly with WWF fireworks and Obama Girls.
It's all so predictable, and avoidable. Just call in and say, "Obama". Get your own arugula. Save the planet, and our minds.
C’mon Democrats, don’t screw this up. I need my welfare check in two (2) days!
That's been my prediction for what will happen here.
I just hope the Dims now in charge of the state don't dip into tax money to fund this fiasco.
Committee sources say they are working with the Democratic National Convention Committee to consider lowering the $55 million in private cash and donated services that must be raised to bring the convention to town. The cuts would be made to the many parties the host committee is obligated to throw for the delegations and the news media, and other hospitality functions not tied to production aspects inside the convention hall.
Here's some ideas kiddies...
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