Tuesday, April 08, 2008

50,000 expected in Denver

WE'VE MOVED! Democratic Convention Watch is now at http://www.DemocraticConventionWatch.com

It's going to be crowded in August:

Democratic National Convention organizers have bumped up their estimate on how many people will flock to Denver during the presidential-nominating bash. The new estimate is now 50,000 people - a 43 percent increase from initial estimates, Leah Daughtry, chief executive officer of the Democratic National Convention Committee, told City Council members Monday.

From heads of state to people who just want to be in Denver on the night the first black man or the first woman becomes a major party's nominee for president, interest around the historic event is growing, she said. "I think it's going to be exciting for Denver," Daughtry said.

The estimate doesn't include the tens of thousands of protesters who are expected to show up.

The DNCC's working estimate had always been 35,000 attendees, including delegates, media and elected officials, spokeswoman Jenni Engebretsen said. "Just looking at the overwhelming interest that we're having in this convention . . . we're likely to see a higher than anticipated turnout here in Denver come August," she said.
Tens of thousands of protesters? Sounds like at least 70,000.