The latest today on Denver 2008......Salazar more optimistic.

[madfloridian]

http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=88a360e2-0abe-421a-00ee-15e0697a560a&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf

New optimism DNC will come to town

"DENVER - Another day, another lengthy phone call with Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, but this time leading Colorado Democrats emerged "very hopeful" that Denver can land the 2008 national convention.

Cody Wertz, spokesman for Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colorado), said the senator joined Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Governor-elect Bill Ritter, and others on a one-hour conference call Friday with former Vermont Gov. Dean.

After that conversation, Wertz says Salazar emerged "confident and enthusiastic" that Denver will show Dean it can raise the $80 million needed to hold the convention.

Thursday, Salazar told 9NEWS he spoke with Dean for half an hour and came away feeling that Colorado's chances were about 50-50. Dean expressed concerns that Denver could host a convention of that size and proportion and "make sure it goes off without a hitch."

[madfloridian]

1. More on this, they are sounding more confident.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4850641

"Sen. Ken Salazar, Gov.-elect Bill Ritter and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper emerged from a Friday morning conference call with Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean feeling "very hopeful, confident and enthusiastic," Salazar spokesman Cody Wertz said. Wertz said the three talked to Dean for about 90 minutes concerning Denver's bid to win the Democratic National Convention in 2008.

Wertz said Salazar, Hickenlooper and Ritter are "committed to ensure this will work."

Denver and New York City are the final cities vying to host the convention at which Democrats will formally nominate their presidential candidate.

While national Democratic Party leaders have said a Colorado convention would reinforce Democratic strength in the region, Denver's bid has been dogged by skepticism that the city can raise enough money."

[shifting_sands]

2. Denver as the Convention site

Denver hosted the Pope in 1993 and 250,000 kids from around the world and it went off without a hitch. Not even one drunken incident or one fight. I know, there were seven of us responsible for putting it on and I was one of the seven. Denver also hosted the World Summit when Clinton was President, with all the World leaders here, plus their staff, handlers, national and international media, thousands were here, and that went off without a hitch. So the "can Denver handle something like this" doesn't hold water. Eighty million to put this on is peanuts compared to World Youth Day when the Pope and President and people from around the world were here, that was well over 300 million in cash and another 300 million for in-kind services. I don't know why they are putting this kind of swill and excuses out but it would not be a problem for Denver.

[madfloridian]

3. It is more involved than that.

Most everyone thinks Dean is leaning that way, and he has really worked with them. But there is the union problem, which is being worked on. There is the money. I don't think it is thinking they can't do it, just proper caution and procedure.