2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

STATEMENT OF MINNESOTA DFL CHAIR BRIAN MELENDEZ ON THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

STATEMENT OF MINNESOTA DFL CHAIR BRIAN MELENDEZ ON THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

(ST. PAUL) 9/27/06 – “While we would have loved to see the Democratic National Convention in 2008, we applaud the leadership of Mayors Rybak and Coleman in securing the RNC. We welcome our Republican friends to the home of Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Paul Wellstone.

“We hope the Republican Party enjoys their stay and we hope they take some honest, Minnesota values with them when they leave.”

DNC Congratulates Twin Cities on Holding 2008 Republican National Convention

For Immediate Release
September 27, 2006

DNC Congratulates Twin Cities on Holding 2008 Republican National Convention

Washington, DC - The Democratic National Committee congratulates the Twin Cities on the announcement that it will host the 2008 Republican National Convention.

"We want to congratulate the Twin Cities. The DNC was thrilled to have three great American cities submit strong bids for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. We are looking forward to working with Denver and New York as we make our final decision. The Twin Cities is a great community and this announcement is good news for the cities," said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton.

RNC Site Selection Committee To Recommend Minneapolis – St. Paul For 2008 Republican National Convention

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

RNC Site Selection Committee To Recommend Minneapolis – St. Paul For 2008 Republican National Convention

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Republican National Committee today announced that its Site Selection Committee has voted to recommend Minneapolis-St. Paul to host the 2008 Republican National Convention, pending the successful negotiation of the Site City Agreement. The full RNC will vote on the recommendation at its Winter Meeting in January, 2007. The convention will be held September 1-4, 2008.

"We are thrilled to accept the bid from Minneapolis-St. Paul to host our 2008 convention. The host committee put together a tremendous bid and we are confident that we will partner for a successful event. Minneapolis-St. Paul has outstanding assets including state-of-the-art facilities, exciting and vibrant downtowns, and a clear enthusiasm from the community to host our convention," said RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman.

The Site Selection Committee reviewed bids from four cities: Cleveland, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York City, and Tampa-St. Petersburg. The Committee visited the four cities in August.

The committee's decision was based on an independent and objective scorecard that committee members reviewed thoroughly. The committee looked at a number of factors such as the number and proximity of hotels, size of the arena and its capacity to hold the convention, transportation, security, media work space, convention office space, and ability to finance the operation.

The Site Selection Committee is made up of nine RNC members. Two members are elected from each of four regions and RNC Co-Chair Jo Ann Davidson chairs the committee.

Xcel Energy Center Focus Of 2008 DNC Bid

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced that Minneapolis-Saint Paul has focused its bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Major convention events would be held at the Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center and the Minneapolis Convention Center.

If Minnesota were to host the convention, the DNC has decided to use the Xcel Energy Center for the large evening convention events and would use the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis Hilton Hotel, and Minneapolis downtown office spaces for the convention headquarters and grassroots organizing center of activity.

"It is clear that the Xcel Center is the best mass meeting venue for the convention's evening events," Mayor Rybak said. "Working together, I am confident that we can put on the most successful grassroots convention ever."

"By focusing our bid around these venues in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, we can create a real multi-venue, inter-city, grassroots convention that energizes Democrats like never before," said Marot Coleman.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul is one of three cities (along with Denver and New York) in the running for the Democratic convention. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is also in the running for the Republican National Convention.

John McCain Receives Support From Phil Gramm

Phil Gramm's support of John McCain is featured in this Washington Times article.

"Now, one of the most widely respected conservatives in the country says he is ready to help pull the McCain campaign bandwagon whenever the senator makes his 2008 Republican presidential run official.

"He is the only person I know who is running and capable of getting elected who is tough enough to do what needs to be done," says former Texas Sen. Phil Gramm."
   
John McCain served as national chairman of Senator Gramm's 1996 presidential campaign.

MN GOP Presidential Straw Poll

Minnesota GOP Convention Presidential Straw Poll Results. A total of 540 ballots were cast. Newt Gingrich finished in first place, receiving 210 votes. George Allen was 2nd with 79 votes, followed by Condi Rice with 58 and John McCain at 55 votes. Other notable vote totals were Jeb Bush at 32 votes, Mitt Romney with 29, and Rudy Giuliani tallying 19 votes.  Each delegate received a blank ballot and asked to vote for their Presidential preference. Minnesota candidates were not eligible in the voting.

Senator Chris Dodd Prepares To Seek Presidency

The Hartford Courant reports that Senator Chris Dodd is preparing a run for the presidency in 2008.

"Sen. Christopher J. Dodd said today he has 'decided to do all the things that are necessary to prepare to seek the presidency in 2008.'
The Connecticut Democrat will hire staff, raise money and travel around the country in the next few months as he tries to enlist support."

John Kerry Supports Keeping Iowa and New Hampshire First

John Kerry supports keeping Iowa and New Hampshire first in his guest commentary in the New Hampshire Union Leader.

'I support Iowa and New Hampshire’s first-in-the nation status in our Presidential nominating process. The special role that Iowa and New Hampshire play in Presidential politics has strengthened our democracy by insuring that citizens at the grassroots engage directly with candidates for the Presidency. We should preserve the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary in their traditional forms."

2008 Republican National Convention Dates Announced

RNC Announces 2008 Republican National Convention Dates

Washington, D.C. – The Republican National Committee announced its decision to hold the 2008 Republican National Convention Monday, September 1st through Thursday, September 4th.

"Our next nominee for President will enjoy the benefit of an exciting and dynamic national convention. The Site Selection Committee is hard at work to make sure that happens and I am confident that we will host an event that all Republicans will be proud of," RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman said.

The deadline for official convention bids is May 22, 2006, and the RNC remains open to bids from all cities. The Site Selection Committee will decide on a list of finalist cities by mid-summer of 2006. The Committee plans to visit only those finalist cities in August and expects to make a final selection on the host city no later than February 1, 2007.

Eleven Cites Seek 2008 Democratic National Convention

Democratic National Committee Invites Eleven Cities To Submit Proposals To Host The 2008 Democratic National Convention

The Democratic National Committee today announced that eleven cities have expressed an interest in hosting the 2008 Democratic National Convention. These eleven cities, more than double the number that applied to host the 2004 Convention, will receive official Requests for Proposal (RFP). They include: Anaheim, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, and San Antonio.

The 2008 Democratic National Convention will be held from August 25-28.

"We're very pleased with the unprecedented interest in hosting the Democratic National Convention," said DNC Chairman Howard Dean. "We look forward to joining with Democrats around the country as we nominate the Party's candidate for president and the effective leadership and vision that Democrats are offering America."

The Democratic National Convention generates millions in economic benefits to a Host City. It was estimated that the 2004 Convention in Boston generated $156 million and the 2000 Convention in Los Angeles generated $147 million. [Boston Herald, 11/14/02; Orlando Sentinel, 1/17/06]

Site visits by the DNC's Technical Advisory Committee will occur in the summer of 2006.