February 17, 2006
DNC Will Seek Bids From 11 Cities
The list of eleven cities expressing interest in hosting the Democratic National Convention in '08 are:
- Anaheim, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Las Vegas, NV
- Minneapolis, MN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX (Hotline sources, 2/17)
Las Vegas has the West, plenty of hotel rooms, party spaces and Harry Reid juice but there's that liberal Sin City taint. (If only Henderson made a bid...) Texas is attractive to Dems for obvious reasons -- Dallas more so than San Antonio. Detroit has a shot if it the economy turns around. New Orleans is a sentimental favorite; the '08 convention there could signal a "national renaissance." NYC ought never be ruled out and is probably the most secure city; Orlando has the hotel rooms but not the arena. Denver is the wildcard; a popular Dem mayor, a great purple state, clean, fresh air..
Posted at 01:21 PM
Comments
My top three choices out of that list would be
1- New Orleans
2- Dallas
3- Minneapolis
But all in all, very good list, all of them!
Megan Gomez | 02.17.06 05:36 PM
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Minneapolis!
They have the arenas, awesome cityscape with nature, and of course, a convention would insure it stays blue.
Andrew | 02.17.06 09:51 PM
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if the Dems want to go for the kill it has to be New Orleans
nick | 02.17.06 10:54 PM
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Denver
Denver
and
Denver
The future of the Democratic Party is the mountain west.
Greg | 02.17.06 11:22 PM
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1. Denver
2. Phoenix
3. Orlando
HootieMcBoob | 02.17.06 11:27 PM
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I'd vote for Denver, a Mountain/western state. The highest population growth in the nation is in the western states. Lot's of independent types that don't sit well with bulls&%t. The area is ripe for a good idea and strong leadership, someone like Hackett.
#2 choice is Phoenix
#3 choice is Minneapolis
teedub | 02.17.06 11:40 PM
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Orlando is the place!
terri Kionka | 02.17.06 11:43 PM
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My top three would be:
1. Denver - I live here
2. New Orleans - Katrina highlights how Repubs are weak on defense
3. Dallas - consistent with Dean's 50-state strategy
dem boy | 02.17.06 11:46 PM
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Which cities on the list haven't had a convention (Dem or Rep) yet?
David Harrison | 02.18.06 12:49 AM
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I live in NYC. I say NO WAY to the DNC. We have pro-war Hilary and Schumer who helped to swift-boat Paul Hackett. I'd protest as loudly against the Dems as I did against the Republicans (well, until I was arrested and held illegally in the bus depot for 24 hours). Also, Howard Dean, the only bright light in the party in YEARS is a turncoat and probably the most ineefective party chair in decades. No thanks. I pray NY passes on this circus. It's all a one-party system anyway. The Dems are voting wit the president on a majority of issues - what's to get excited about?
Oh. and biggest fact in all of this - New York City LOST money on the RNC convention.
Robbo | 02.18.06 12:50 AM
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Vegas, baby! It's the national playground & increasingly the national meeting place.
David Raatz | 02.18.06 01:21 AM
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I'd vote for New Orleans as my number one to make a statement. Dems march to the White House by making the claim in the location of the one of the Republican White House's biggest mistakes.
Next, I'd want Anaheim or Phoenix because those are close proximity to me.
Matt O. | 02.18.06 01:24 AM
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DO IT IN NEW ORLEANS! PLEASE OH LORD THIS IS TOO GOOD A CHANCE TO PASS UP!
M Hall | 02.18.06 01:55 AM
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I'm curious...is it easier for all the pols to get to eastern cities. I was at the DNC in Boston and I know for certain I wouldn't have gone if I could not have driven there from NYC. Western cities are so far away from each other anyway, very rarely does anyone get to them other than by flying or day-long drives. Am I wrong?
Steve L | 02.18.06 04:27 AM
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i think we should hold it in crawford texas.maybe bring a few tents and some food.could be a kick ass time
mook | 02.18.06 04:30 AM
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My vote would be for Dallas.
# Anaheim, CA - doesn't help us - CA is mainly liberal country
# Denver, CO - Maybe second place - but just not as defined as Dallas.
# Detroit, MI - Michigan is a beautiful place but using '04 as a guide - we need to connect more with the Southern Voters.
# Las Vegas, NV - I agree that its got the liberal sin city taint that we don't need.
# Minneapolis, MN - eh?
# New Orleans, LA - While it would be great for the city financially speaking, celebration in this city could come across as a celebration for the political gain from Bush's lack of response to Katrina.
# New York, NY - umm too close to the Republican's '04 New York Convention.
# Orlando, FL - another good option - however - what if we convine Gore to run again? Can you imagine a convention in Florida after what happened in Florida the last time he ran??
# Phoenix, AZ - Reaching out to the Midwest is great but again not as great as reaching into the Texas characterized heartland.
# San Antonio, TX (Hotline sources, 2/17)- Better - but, not as good as Dallas.
-Dallas is perfect because it�s a big city in Texas. It�s similar to the Republicans choice for New York for their convention. Strong, brave, proud Democrats celebrating in the state that brought the worst president in our recent history to office is beautiful. When he was running for President, Howard Dean had a rally in Dallas that attracted tons of people. Because of that rally, donations came in like crazy online. People want to see their party proud and courageous. Having the
JAK | 02.18.06 05:34 AM
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1. New Orleans
2. Denver
3. Orlando/Phoenix
kas | 02.18.06 05:42 AM
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DALLAS?!? As a Texas Democrat, I've just got to say, are they OUT OF THEIR MIND? San Antonio would be much better, for a variety of reasons, appealing to Hispanic Voters would be not the least of which. Also there is the symbolic allusion that can be utilized, such as the last stand, a la the Alamo. However, neither of those cities would be as good as having it in my hometown Austin, or even better yet, Houston, where throngs of Katrina victims as still stranded, and now, homeless. DALLAS? Do these people do their research? This is the furthest right leaning large city in Texas, bar none. Not to mention, Dallas has a history of, ahem, shooting Democrats, see 1963. DALLAS? I agree with the concept of Texas, but pick the right city for God sake. If they're going to pick Dallas, then why not Midland-Oddessa, or Crawford for that matter. Help us, Jeebus.
Todd Mattson | 02.18.06 07:45 AM
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We should go to Memphis or Winston Salem - Better yet - Kansas City.... What's the matter with Kansas
Carol Andeson | 02.18.06 09:20 AM
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Denver Denver Denver Denver Denver
And I say that not just because I live in Colorado. :^)
Seriously, Colorado is teetering on the edge of voting Democratic again. It really is. A convention out here would convince a lot of fence-sitters that the Democrats take them seriously and aren't just beholden to coastal interests. It would strengthen a number of state-level pols and weaken those who respond to Focus on the Family (based in Colo Spgs) like Tancredo and Musgrave, etc.
New Orleans would just exploitative. Texas is an interesting idea, but it's too early. Turn Colorado, and you've started the ball rolling. Vegas? Forget it. What happens there should just stay there. Detroit? Are you kidding? Phoenix? In August? Are you nuts???? Yeah I know, it's like Colorado in a way, but with McCain around it's just not fertile ground right now.
Denver Denver Denver Denver Denver Denver
Eric | 02.18.06 09:51 AM
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you're right in that orlando does not have an arena, but it does have one of the largest convention centers in the country.
miami | 02.18.06 10:07 AM
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It would be great to see Minneapolis host (and I'm not even from the Midwest). After all, it's the one state that has gone Dem every cycle since 1972. They deserve some sort of reward for that.
Patience | 02.18.06 10:40 AM
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what about Chicago, Illinois
carolyn winfrey | 02.18.06 11:15 AM
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Bring it to Anaheim. It'll save me the cost of the flight as it's freeway close. I'd love to work a third DNC.
Mike Randall | 02.18.06 12:14 PM
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1 New Orleans
2 Orlando
3 Denver
New Orleans would be the best, assuming there's enough infrastructure to support it.
Corvidae | 02.18.06 01:20 PM
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Salt Lake City should host. It has the venues and a liberal Democratic Mayor, Rocky Anderson, who is spectacularly at odds with the Legislature.
And this would take Howard Dean's 50 state strategy to the reddest of the red. Living here, I see the timing and impact would be wonderful.
mark | 02.18.06 01:50 PM
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I would choose Denver or Miineapolis. The rest don't have the placea aren't stable enough and don't have thje resources.
Anon Master | 02.18.06 02:27 PM
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New Orlunz all the freaking way. You know the Repugs will make "DNC/Nat'l Disaster" but we just counter with "At least we show up/set foot there and like to help poor people."
Prophet of Rage | 02.18.06 05:32 PM
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NEW ORLEANS!
The Dems need to start playing post-modern politics like the GOP has been doing for 25 years. We must be more attuned to symbolism and image.
The GOP came to NYC in 2004 because they understood the symbolic value of doing so. We should have come to NYC in '04 also, but Boston got it because of backroom political dealing by Ted Kennedy and John Kerry (it was "Boston's turn").
We should go to New Orleans for symbolic value too. Also because:
1. It's a wonderful city,
2. It's a traditional stronghold of the Democratic party,
3. It's in the South, and
4. It needs a serious economic shot in the arm.
Maximus | 02.18.06 06:12 PM
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My top 3 choices:
1. Dallas
2. Denver
3. Orlando
My last choice is Sin City.
I think we should have the Convention in a state Kerry lost in 2004 but we hope to gain. Can't win Texas though (not yet) but what a show of strength it would be. Maybe I'm biased though because I live in Austin, TX.
Bob Carstensen | 02.18.06 07:36 PM
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Denver or Las Vegas. Both states are the most on the cusp of flipping Dem in 08 than any other state/city listed.
Joe Garcia | 02.18.06 08:14 PM
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Minneapolis would be great
slippy | 02.18.06 08:40 PM
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Denver has clean fresh air?
Are you nuts?
The locals call it "The Brown Cloud"
EX-DENVERITE | 02.19.06 09:01 PM
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Detroit is the choice. Just hosted the Superbowl. NOLA will not be ready. Sorry Denver (Colorado) just a little state.
It's the region stupid MI, OH, IL, PENN
M Go Blue | 02.21.06 04:37 PM
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