Convention gets $1 million from NY Republican

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

Pretty impressive:

Tom Golisano, the Rochester billionaire and registered Republican, donated $1 million on Friday to the host committee of the Democratic Party’s convention in Denver, making him one of the largest donors to the planning efforts surrounding the expected coronation of Barack Obama as the party’s nominee next week.
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The latest donation, however, will burnish his profile on the national political stage. The donation to the national Democratic host committee comes as the Obama campaign and the Democratic Party have been scrambling for big donors to underwrite the five-day convention, which begins on Monday. For his $1 million, Mr. Golisano gets a skybox at Invesco Field, where Mr. Obama will deliver his acceptance speech, and 50 additional tickets.
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His political affiliations have always been fluid. He used his wealth to help found the Independence Party, which is still a sought-after ballot line in New York, where politicians may run on multiple party lines. He joined the Republican Party in late 2005, after George E. Pataki, his rival, decided not to seek a fourth term as governor. But Mr. Golisano ultimately decided not to run in 2006.

In the past, he has donated to the presidential campaigns of Senator John Kerry and former Representative Richard A. Gephardt, two Democrats, but he also donated $50,000 in 2006 to the State Senate Republicans. - NY Times

Well now we know how to get additional tickets to the speech...

Note: His million dollars must have been enough to add an extra day. Everything we've seen says the convention will last 4 days.

Update: More on who's getting prime seats at Invesco:

Top fundraisers for the "Obama Victory Fund" were offered club-level seats through the end of Monday for $1,000 apiece. Also, the biggest donors to the Democratic National Convention's host committee and select VIPs are getting ultra-plush suites at Invesco.
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Separately, almost all of the 131 private luxury suites, which seat from 14 to 20 people, are being granted to big donors and party officials. Corporations such as Xcel Energy and MolsonCoors, which have donated more than $1 million to the Denver committee hosting the convention, have been granted suites. So have party VIPs including Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Gov. Bill Ritter and Sen. Ken Salazar, who have served the host committee as fundraisers. - Denver Post