Denver in 2008

I am glad to see that Denver appears likely to bid for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.  State Democratic Party First Chair Dan Slater, also known as the blogger who operates DemNotes, is mentioned in the Post's story about the bid, and Dan has been doing great work at his blog explaining the importance of bringing the Democratic Convention to the Mountain Region for only the second time in history, and for the first time since the Dems held their convention here way back in 1908.

The biggest obstacle to Denver getting the convention will be the sentimental bid to put the convention in New Orleans.  Here are my four main reasons why Denver is a better site than New Orleans for the 2008 convention:

1.  Putting the convention in Denver will shake up the national perspective on the Democratic Party by setting the convention against the backdrop of a vibrant, non-coastal Western city where the Democrats are well known and loved.  The message to the entire country is that the Democratic Party, like Denver, is full of energy and optimism.

2.  A Denver convention would send a message to the Mountain West region that the Democratic Party intends to make a stand in this region.  That is important considering the relative handful of presidential "swing states" and the probability that in future elections at least four states in our region (CO, AZ, NV and NM) will be presidential and Senatorial battlegrounds.

3.  A New Orleans convention will look too much like an imitation of the Republicans' efforts to invoke mass death in New York in 2004 for a political boost.  To me, partying on the graves of dead Americans to boost your political prospects is for Republicans, not Democrats.

4.  Average temperature in Denver in August:  86 degrees with low humidity.  Average temperature in New Orleans in August:  91 with high humidity.

Ultimately, though, I think the determining factor will be that New Orleans simply will not mount a bid for the convention.  Denver's competition will be Anaheim and the usual Northeastern suspects.  So I'm looking forward to a Rocky Mountain convention for the Dems in '08.

Comments

[Matt]

I think your items 2 and 3 will drive the convention to Denver. I'm tracking the site selection on my blog at http://demconwatch.blogspot.com . New Orleans is the only other city getting any real press, but I'm sure others will pop up.

[Off Colfax]

Agree with Matt. Number one just sounds like gratuitous wordplay in my mind, and not anything that the DNC couldn't get from Albuquerque, Phoenix, or even Vegas. Now if they wanted to get really obscure, either Flagstaff or Vail would do wonders. And definately Boulder, although I could hear the screaming if Boulder got the 'vent and Denver got passed over.

And number four gets defeated by that wonderful marvel called central air conditioning, which means that the conditions outside when shuttling between hotel, convention location, meals, and random parties. Which, from what I hear, takes about 30 minutes of the total day in a well-planned convention environment.

[Drew]

I really disagree with 3. It would depend on the tone of the convention, of course, but I think it could serve as a show of solidarity with the people of New Orleans.

That city needs an economic and morale boost. Really; it's a ghost town, from what my sister tells me.

[Ted]

I'm sad to see that Wyoming is not among your list of battleground states in future elections. Not that I think you're wrong in excluding it from the list, I'm just gonna work my @$$ off to make sure that you ARE wrong!

I hope Denver gets the convention, though. I'll be there with bells on!