Denver quiet on fundraising

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Well we always knew fundraising for the convention would be difficult, so stories like this shouldn't be surprising:

The host committee for the 2008 Democratic National Convention has stopped issuing updates on fundraising after falling short of its first benchmark, but organizers say they aren't worried. The host committee has a goal of raising $40 million in cash and $15 million in in-kind contributions by June 2008. In late June 2007, the last time the committee issued an update, it reported about $6 million in cash, short of its $7.5 million benchmark for June 1.

Host committee spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said in an e-mail to The Associated Press Tuesday that the committee "declines to comment on updated fundraising figures. We are focused on our December goals." The December goal hasn't been released.

Natalie Wyeth, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee's convention organizing committee, said the organizers were not worried about the host committee's ability to raise money. "We remain confident the host committee will continue to report in accordance with the contractual deadlines," Wyeth said.

Ultimately, the money will be raised. If things are still running behind once the nominee is selected in the spring, then a lot of help will quickly come from the national party infrastructure. The party will not want money issues to detract from the messages of the campaign.