Denver enters bid to host Dems' 2008 convention

[Placebo]

The next Democrat to run for president would accept the nomination in Denver if city officials have their way.

Mayor John Hickenlooper has sent a letter to the Democratic National Committee announcing the city's intentions to host the 2008 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."

Denver was among the first cities to officially accept an invitation to bid. City officials are banking on national interest in the intermountain West as a new political "battleground" and hoping to capitalize on regional interest in a Western-states primary.

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[OKNancy]

1. Sounds good to me

[rockymountaindem]

2. That's a great idea

The amount of publicity that would generate locally would nudge the increasingly Democratic state further into our column.

[mountainvue]

25. Agreed. This is a great idea.

Good job, Hick.

[f-bush]

3. Yes Denver would be great and then in 2012.....

Seattle!!!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. Sounds good to me. Nice city, pretty close Dem/Repub ratio, good number

of electoral votes.

Color me interested.

[mountainvue]

26. Denver proper is heavily blue. It's the

surrounding counties that tip the scales in the other direction.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

28. That's true of most big cities in America, even in TX. Dallas has a Dem

mayor.

[saltpoint]

5. Denver? It's an exciting prospect. I think Democrats should hold

their convention in 2008 in Colorado or Minnesota or even Texas.

Let's put our speakers on red soil and tell it like it is.

[jwirr]

15. Minnesota is BLUE.

[saltpoint]

17. In 2004, for example, Minnesota went blue -- narrowly.

It is a purple state of late.

Colorado is red. Texas is red.

[LynneSin]

19. Last I checked they elected a democratic senator in 2004

I think we have a chance of winning back Colorado

[saltpoint]

21. Wellstone would probably have defeated Norm Coleman in MN but

the old warhorse Mondale lost to Democrat-turned-Republican Coleman in 2002.

Senator Dayton is not seeking re-election and that senate race is going to be very close, hotly contested, and nationally siginficant. It is a purple race in an increasingly purple state.

The old DFL coalition is not what it used to be in Hubert Humphrey's day.

I agree with you on Colorado.

[Thor_MN]

27. Minnesota was one of the bluest, but we have had a influx

of people from out of state, turning us purple. I think the pendulum is on the way back as the neocons become more visible to the religious as what they really are, immoral, corrupt criminals. They played a good game, convincing people that they were the "moral adults" taking charge, but now their crimes are becoming apparent, they are going to pay a big price.

[Warpy]

6. yes, get it the hell off the coasts

and out of the DLC comfort zone. Put it out west, which is where the next wave of progressivism is going to start. Make it in a place Schweitzer will be comfortable in. Then DON'T put forth some Congressional jellyfish as the candidate. Please.

Just getting it off the east coast will be a help.

[Olney Blue]

7. Denver is a great city- good idea!

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. I am pulling for New Orleans

[bluestateguy]

12. I'm not

It would just smell too much of what the other side did with New York City in 2004. Maybe 2012.

[LynneSin]

20. I agree with you BSG

We hold it in New Orleans the media would rip the dems to shred for using New Orleans and the tragedy even though Bush did the same exact thing with NYC and having the convention there in 2004 (even moved the convention to the latest date possible so it would be close to 9/11).

Democrats will be fighting enough smears in the media without adding this one. If the democrats and all left leaning folks want to help out New Orleans then host your convention in the city, but something as notable as this should be held somewhere else

[KamaAina]

29. Historically the problem with the DNC and New Orleans

has been that N.O. has few large hotels with union contracts, which the Dems rightly prefer. I've never quite understood that, given New Orleans' background in shipping, so heavily unionized elsewhere.

Naturally that didn't stop the repukes from holding Poppy Bush's coronation there in '88. Cabbies and other service workers report that -- surprise! -- the repuke delegates were the worst tippers in N.O. history.

[benny05]

9. Denver would be so fine

I don't have a chance in hades to be a delegate, but I love the city, and there are more blue staters in Colorado who would trump the Family Man, James Dobson.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

10. I live here...this would be fantastic!!!!

:woohoo: MKJ

[bluestateguy]

11. Why not Phoenix?

Denver would be OK, but Phoenix is the city that I think would be a better choice--and they have a Democratic governor (Napolitano is a cinch for reelection this fall).

[LiviaOlivia]

13. Phoenix in August

No thanks. Lived it for years.

[kurth]

24. But.... it's dry heat!

I agree the place can be a furnace.
For dry heat in August, I'd rather go to Vegas.

[xultar]

14. I'm going if it is in Denver. I was in Chicago and it was beautiful!

[otohara]

16. Mayor Hickenlooper Just Pulled Out of Gov Race

he's really cool He would have won in a heartbeat!

[DavidDvorkin]

18. Rumored to be planning to run for senator

But I don't know how reliable such rumors are. Or even what the source of this one is.

[Zynx]

22. If he were to run in 2008 against Allard that would be great.

[mr.sparkle]

30. that's too bad :(

it would have been great for Colorado to have the "looper" as the gov....he's been a great mayor for Denver, followed through on many campaign promises, most notably lowering the cost for parking Downtown and making Sundays free!!! plus, he's a huge advocate of public transit, which if you've been to Denver in the past few years, the city sorely needs more of. here's to hoping he considers running against Allard for the senate spot

[donco6]

23. Denver would be great! (I live here).

New convention center, several BIG new hotels going in. Great weather in August - AND ALL YOU GUYS HERE!

Honestly, it would be a lot of fun.

[nevergiveup]

32. Sounds cool

Can we all stay with you? I'll bring the beer.

[mr.sparkle]

31. Denver is a GREAT choice

the state Senate AND House both went to the Dems in 2004 for the first time in a LONG time, so it looks like Colorado is turning out to be more blue than you previously thought!

[donheld]

33. Welcome to DU

:hi: