New York's money problems

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According to the New York Daily News, New York officials continue to say they will not be able to raise the money the DNC requires to host the 2008 Democratic Convention:

Mayor Bloomberg made it known last month that he is too busy with other fund-raising, and none of the other likely candidates to lead the bid - Sens. Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, and Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer - has rushed to take the helm.

"Chuck has made it abundantly clear that his commitment is raising money for the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which he chairs], and Hillary's commitment is to herself," said someone involved with the bid. "Eliot Spitzer has decided he needs to govern the state."

Meanwhile, the city's big Democratic fund-raisers "don't like Dean, and they don't like his staff," the source said. Indeed, one top New York Democrat, Maureen White, quit as DNC finance chairwoman this year. "The old institutional New York DNC players are no longer at the table," he said.

Dean said in November that money was Denver's biggest obstacle. Maybe not so much anymore? When reports of New York's money problems first surfaced in October, it was seen as a ploy. But continued stories make it clear that this is a significant issue for the New York bid, and with Bloomberg being a Republican who may be running for President, there may just not be the political power to get New York's issues resolved.