Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

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If you follow the House of Representatives, you know Charlie Rangel.

But first: Congressman Rangel is a decorated war hero, having been awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart while serving in Korea. He was in the service from 1948 - 1952.

From his official biography:

Congressman Charles B. Rangel is serving his 19th term as the Representative from the 15th Congressional District, comprising East and Central Harlem, the Upper West Side, and Washington Heights/Inwood. He is is the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Chairman of the Board of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Dean of the New York State Congressional Delegation.

He was elected to Congress in 1970, and as an aside, the 15th CD is the smallest CD, in terms of geography, in the country. He currently heads the House Ways and Means Committee, and is the first African-American to do so. He originally made a play for the seat by running against Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., who he defeated in the primary.

Charlie Rangel is a powerful, accomplished Congressman.

It's possible that Charlie Rangel may also be a crook. Maybe not, but he's certainly under scrutiny. We'll come back to this.

Something that has interested me about Mr. Rangel for some time is his idea of bringing back the draft. It's not that he is a hawk, he certainly isn't. He's generally a left-wing ideologue (with a touch of pragmatism). His feeling is that there would be fewer wars if the people on the ground fighting them were not disproportionately poor and non-white. Trivia question: which ethnic group has the highest percentage of their population in the American military? Answer here.

So here's what the Congressman is up against right now:

1. Did Charlie Rangel trade a $1 million dollar contribution for allowing the continuation of a tax loophole which benefitted the benefactor? He says no, the NY Times says yes. The Times seems to be winning on proof.

2. His CD congressional office is in a converted rent-controlled apartment. That's not a legit use of a rent-controlled apartment. The Congressman admitted that, and said he would move out. And then he didn't.

3. Legal and ethics problems related to a failure to pay his taxes related to money he made renting out a condo he owns in the Caribbean (since paid), the rent-controlled apartments (yes, there is more than one), and the possibility that he improperly used Congressional stationary to undertake fundraising for an educational endeavor to be named after him.

4. And then there's the gym:

The tiny office space holds everything a busy chairman needs to shed a few pounds in comfort - a flat-screen television, an exercise machine, a mirror, a small refrigerator and a telephone.

The room is just steps away from Rangel's well-appointed suite of offices, and staffers have observed the powerful Ways and Means chairman and his staff using the office multiple times over the last two months.

The House is considering an ethics investigation, and Rangel basically said "Bring it on."

When will Clinton Resign?

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With Hillary Clinton set to be named tomorrow (10:40 EST press conference) as Secretary of State, another Senate seat opens up. But when will that happen?

Her staff isn't saying, but [Lloyd] Bentsen is the most recent sitting senator to join the Cabinet, and a likely guide. The Senate Finance Committee met and voted the nomination out on Jan. 12. Bill Clinton was sworn in on Jan. 20, and the Senate briefly convened hours later to hear Bentsen's nomination, along with those of Les Aspin and Warren Christopher.

Only then did Bentsen resign. - Politico

See here for a discussion of who might replace Clinton, and here for a look at whether Bill Clinton might get the position.

The next Senator from New York...?

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Things we know: sometime after Thanksgiving, Senator Clinton will officially be named as the next Secretary of State.

Thing we don't know: who will be appointed to take her place in the US Senate and then stand for election in 2010.

The power to appoint Senator Clinton's replacement rests solely at the hands of New York Governor David Paterson. Paterson is in a unique position in that, because he slid into his job after Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned, he will be an incumbent campaigning for a job he's never formally been elected to. Thus he'll need to make a good Senate pick in order to consolidate his Democratic base as much as possible so as to fend off any credible Republican challenge in the fall.

In today's Washington Post blog "The Fix," Chris Cilliza writes that Rudy Giuliani may be looking at a run for Governor which further increases the need for Paterson to unify the Democratic Party. Cilliza also offers a list of potential successors to the Clinton seat.

Put bluntly: Paterson's main job now is to piss off the least amount of people possible. One could say that's any politician's job, but it's especially the case for this scenario.

So what kind of an appointee will Paterson want in the Senate? The person should meet four criteria:

• Can raise money
• Unify Democrats
• Has high name recognition
• Can hold on to the seat in the 2010 special election

A member of Congress is a natural choice, because these are people who have federal experience and one would think the ability to raise Washington money to hold on to the seat. Congresswoman Kristin Gillibrand comes from an upstate district, which would make her competitive in a statewide race. And while it would be good to replace Clinton with another woman in the Senate - Gillibrand has only been in Congress for a short time. Her ascent could upset others in the Party and either cause a tough primary in 2010, some backlash to Paterson - or both. Congressman Gregory Meeks has earned his stripes overtime, but it's not certain that he can win statewide.

Andrew Cuomo is also a safe choice, because he has family history in the state, Washington experience, and most of all has high name recognition - it might be hard to argue with such a Paterson selection if it seems to be such an obvious choice.

With all of these factors put into place, it would seem that Cuomo would be the best choice in terms of experience and politics. But what do you think? As always, please use the comments if your choice does not appear.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Who will replace Clinton in the Senate?

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The NY Times rounds up the usual suspects:

On Friday night, [Governor] Paterson told reporters that 10 to 20 people had already contacted him about their interest in taking Mrs. Clinton’s place. “I would say it’s not a shy and retiring group of people who would like to serve in the Senate,” he said, declining to name them.
...
The only thing he has ruled out is appointing himself, which some have said would amount to abandoning the state amid a fiscal crisis.
...
The most high-profile potential candidate is Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who has won praise during his two years in office. A Marist College poll had Mr. Cuomo comfortably leading a field of five potential replacements. Representatives Nydia M. Velázquez, Steve Israel, Nita M. Lowey and Gregory W. Meeks were all in single digits, while 43 percent of respondents favored Mr. Cuomo; 42 percent were unsure.
...
The Marist poll excluded those who are likely to get serious consideration, aides said. One is Representative Kirsten E. Gillibrand, a lawmaker from Hudson, whose district stretches across 10 upstate counties.
...
Other contenders include Adolfo Carrión Jr., the Bronx borough president, and two men from the Buffalo area — Representative Brian Higgins, whose district stretches to the Pennsylvania border, and Mayor Byron W. Brown of Buffalo. Less expected choices include Caroline Kennedy, who most recently worked on Mr. Obama’s campaign.

Other names we've heard include Rep. Jerrold Nadler and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Good Morning, and WELCOME to a Brand New Day!

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Before I bring you the round-up on the races, I just want to thank all of you who, via both the comments and email have encouraged my efforts to turn my little corner of the world blue. Election results are generally reported in a macro fashion, but, and you know this, they are won ONE VOTER AT A TIME. And if you think you hate the repetition of that line, you don't know the hundreds of people, many of them strangers to me, who had to look me in the eye and hear:

To win the election, McCain has to win Pennsylvania, to win Pennsylvania, he has to win Chester County. To win Chester County, he has to get through me. And I'm just a little blonde girl, please help me save the world.

And hundreds of people answered that call. Here ins W-5, the vote, which Shane and I personally added together from the machine tapes around 10:30 last night, was 1935 - 1218. And for the first time since 1964, Chester County is blue: 54%/45%.

What we did here was what people with the same dedication and enthusiasm did across the country. President-elect Obama is correct: we all own a piece of the win, it is a win for all of us. Change has come.

Remember: we had a plan, we worked the plan. We worked the plan, we won.

And Missouri and North Carolina, at this moment, are still not even settled.

And now, some races:

In Alaska, it's Young over Berkowitz 52%/44%. Yup, still red. Definitively. With 99% of the vote in, Stevens-the-Felon is ahead of Begich, 48%/47%. Raw count: 106,351/102,998. I'm not sure if Begich will ask for a recount, nor whether the Senate will boot Stevens out. I also don't know if Spunky will appoint herself if the Senate does do the right thing. But, trust me, I'm all over it, and will keep you apprised.

Undecided Senate races: In Georgia, Chambliss is holding with 50% of the vote with 99% of the vote in. If he holds at 50%, he wins. If he falls to 49.9%, or if he falls below 50% on a recount, then there will be a run-off.

In Oregon, with 73% of the vote in, it's 47%/47% Smith leading Merkley.

In Minnesota, with 88% of the vote in, it's 42%, 42%, 15%, Coleman over Franken by a hair, with Barkley holding 15%.

House Races: First, out in the Idaho first, with 89% of the vote in, it's Minnick over Sali, 51%/49%. If this holds, that's Walt Minnick, DEMOCRAT from Idaho.

Say goodbye to Vito in the NY-13th, and welcome Mike McMahon, who won with 61% of the vote, and no, that's not a misprint.

In the rest of NY, we picked up the 25th, Maffei over Sweetland, 55%/42%, and the 29th, Massa over Kuhl, 51%/49%. There are now 26 out of 29 House seats in NY held by Democrats.

And finally, Joe McCarthy reincarnation Michele Bachmann won the MN 6th over ElTinklenberg 46%/44%. Don't get me started. I'm hopeful about the censure potential.

We'll be up throughout the day with updates, and information on the transition.

Welcome to a new world. Welcome to the brightest sunrise in years: even if it's cloudy where you are. And now, the work of governing begins.

Clintons to crisscross country in final stretch

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From Hillary's press office:

Senator Clinton and President Clinton to Campaign for Obama-Biden and Other Democrats in Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Today, October 29, Senator Hillary Clinton will campaign for Democrats throughout New York including an event with Congressman Mike Arcuri, a rally with the Erie County Democrats and a GOTV Rally for Eric Massa, Dan Maffei Alice Kryzan and local Democrats in Rochester, NY. In the evening, Senator Clinton will attend the Monroe County Democrats Dinner in Rochester NY.

In the coming week, Senator Clinton will travel to Ohio, Florida, and Virginia on behalf of the Obama-Biden ticket. She will also be making stops in Kentucky for Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford.

President Bill Clinton will also be crisscrossing the country for Obama-Biden. Today, President Clinton will make stops in Pennsylvania and Florida, attending a joint rally with Senator Obama in Orlando.

Tomorrow, President Clinton will attend events in Youngstown, OH, Toledo, OH before traveling to Minnesota on behalf of Senate candidate Al Franken. On Saturday, President Clinton will attend events in West Virginia and New Jersey before traveling to New Hampshire on Sunday to campaign for Obama-Biden and Senate candidate Governor Jeanne Shaheen.

NY Add-ons named

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The four New York add-ons have been named.
From the Clinton Campaign

Four New York Automatic Delegates Back Hillary

Cuomo, Fields, DiNapoli, Arroyo named NY Automatic Delegates Today

The Clinton Campaign announced the support of four New York automatic delegates today, after the New York State Democratic Committee elected its automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

The automatic delegates include New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and New York Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo.

You can see the list of all of the NY delegates here.

It sounds like the MD add-ons won't be named until Saturday

NY Governor Eliot Spitzer linked to prostitution ring

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It was announced today that Governor Eliot Spitzer was caught arranging to meet with a prostitute in Washington last month.

We vowed to bring real change to New York and that will continue. Today, I want to briefly address a private matter. I have acted in a way that violated the obligations to my family and that violates my — or any — sense of right and wrong. I apologize first, and most importantly, to my family. I apologize to the public, whom I promised better. I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good and doing what is best for the State of New York. But I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard that I expect of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family. I will not be taking questions. Thank you very much. I will report back to you in short order. Thank you very much. - Spitzer's statement from NYT

Should Spitzer resign he would lose his superdelegate status. Spitzer is in Clinton's corner on our endorsement list. He would be replaced by Lt. Governor David Paterson who is already a superdelegate and Clinton endorser. This may bring the total number of superdelegates back to 794 depending on how this plays out.

Paterson is currently an at-large member on the DNC roster of superdelegates. If he becomes Governor and gives up his DNC position the DNC will fill the vacancy with someone else and the number will continue to be 795. (Update: The DNC has confirmed that DNC members can also be replaced up to the beginning of the convention). If he holds his position with the DNC the number of superdelegates will go down to 794.

More on Paterson here:

David A Paterson was elected New York’s 74th Lieutenant Governor on November 7, 2006. As Lieutenant Governor, Paterson leads the administration’s charge in several critical areas. He focuses on stem cell research, alternative energy, reducing domestic violence, and increasing the role minority- and women-owned businesses play in New York State. Governor Spitzer chose Paterson to be his running mate because Paterson had a strong record of championing issues such as these for over the two decades he served in the New York State Senate. - NY.GOV

Update: The New York Times is reporting that Spitzer's Aides expect him to resign at some point.

Top aides to Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Tuesday morning that they expect the governor to resign his office, although the timing of the resignation remains uncertain.

After a report that Gov. Eliot Spitzer had patronized a prostitution ring, officials in Albany greeted the news with shock, and some on Wall Street, a frequent target of his investigations as attorney general, were unsympathetic.

Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson and his staff have begun laying the groundwork for him to take over as governor and are reaching out to members of the Legislature, the aides said.

Denver's Adam's Mark Hotel (may) have new look in time for the convention

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Delegates from New York and California may be staying in an even swankier hotel than they were already slated for after Denver's Adam's Mark Hotel was sold for $176 million. The 1,125 room hotel will undergo a $70-million renovation and be rebranded under the Starwood Resort and Hotel name.

Within the next 18 months, every inch of the hotel (will) undergo a $70 million renovat(ion) to meet the Sheraton concept.

The renovation will include putting flat-screen TVs in all guest rooms, revamping the food and beverage area with the Sheraton theme and creating a social area where people can use the Internet.

The hotel has 133,000 square feet of meeting space, and will be open during the Aug. 25-28, 2008, Democratic National Convention in Denver. Delegates from New York and California will be staying in the Adam's Mark. - Denver Business Journal

Unless they're able to complete the renovations a full year ahead of schedule the renovations won't be finished in time for the convention. If you've ever stayed in a hotel that's been under construction you know how pleasant it can be. I'm sure the fine people at Starwood will keep any inconveniences to a minimum during the convention. I guess it's still better than staying in a hotel that's an hour away from the Pepsi Center.

And if any NY or CA delegates are visitors to our blog we'd like to let you know that we are accepting invitations for any parties you may be having (for reporting purposes of course!).

It was New York's for the taking...

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Interesting article from Newsday, saying that New York could have had the convention if any of the bigwigs had even tried to get it:

In the end, New York's political potentates weren't willing to dig for the gold necessary to keep the 2008 Democratic convention from migrating to the Rockies. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean announced Thursday that the August 2008 convention would be held in Denver, despite the Mile High City's dearth of hotel rooms and surfeit of union troubles.

Neither Mayor Michael Bloomberg nor New York's marquee Democrats, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, were willing to lead the $100-million fundraising campaign needed to attract the convention. "There was no meaningful effort by Bloomberg or Clinton or anyone else to get this," said one national Democratic operative close to the negotiations, requesting anonymity. "It was New York's for the taking, but no one stepped forward."

As I've been noting, both Bloomberg and Clinton had a vested interest in the convention not coming to New York. Well, they got what they wanted.

New York reaction

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Some notes from the New York newspapers. From the Times:

It's not exactly a "New York: Drop Dead" kind of moment, but the Democratic National Committee has decided to hold the party's 2008 nominating convention in Denver, according to Democrats familiar with the decision, heading West in rejecting a bid from New York to hold it there.

New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg said today that he was "sorry" the Democrats didn't choose New York, and that he wished Denver "all the best," according to Diane Cardwell, The Times's City Hall bureau chief. "I think that raising money for conventions is getting harder for cities and this city had a particular problem," Mr. Bloomberg said, adding that he felt the onus for fundraising would fall on him. He said he believed Mr. Dean took into account the fundraising issues in deciding on Denver.

And from Newsday:

Even though New York City lost to Denver in the competition to host the 2008 Democratic presidential convention, there was talk of celebratory toasts and a Rocky Mountain high at City Hall.

That is because New York officials were not particularly excited about putting on the Democratic gala. Mayor Michael Bloomberg had spent months dialing down enthusiasm about the bid, despite initial efforts to entice the party into holding the convention in New York.

The billionaire mayor's explanation for the change of heart last fall was that he no longer believed the city could raise the money because he had taken on some hefty fundraising committments that would tie up time and fundraising sources.

When asked for his reaction to the decision Democrats had been mulling for months, Bloomberg was polite, but hardly dejected.

"We are disappointed," Bloomberg said. "But as I had pointed out a number of times, these conventions have gotten very expensive."

Should Hillary go for the Macy's walk again?

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There's a great comment over at Room Eight on a post on why New York's political leaders aren't pushing hard for the convention. The main post is good, covering ground I've already discussed, but I love the comment the poster added:

You can see why Hillary might want it here, even if she's reluctant to cheer too hard for nyc to get it. Remember that night in 1992 when Bill Clinton went to the Garden to make his big appearance, and he, Hillary and young Chelsea walked hand in hand through the closed lower level of Macy's to get to the Garden. It was a great visual. You think they wouldn't like to relive that scene fourteen years later? Bill, Hillary and the now grown Chelsea walking hand in hand through Macy's to the Garden, as Fleetwood Mac plays "don't stop thinking about tomorrow" Then they arrive across the street from the Garden, Bill and Chelsea kiss Hillary and she leaves them and walks alone into the Garden and onto the stage to accept the nomination. Deja vu all over again.

I was on the floor of the Garden when the Clinton's did their televised walk, and it was an amazing scene. After Clinton's 'issues' during the primary campaign, it was done partly, or even mainly, to highlight Chelsea, since polling showed that a large part of the population didn't even know the Clintons had a child, but it was also just an amazing way to bring in the candidate. Doing it again would drive the convention crowd absolutely wild. Something worth considering by the Clinton campaign as they think about where they really want the convention to be. (Then again, if you ask John Edwards where he would like the convention, you wonder if New Orleans shouldn't try to get back into this thing).

Update: Turns out the walk in 1992 was on Wednesday night, not for his speech (on Thursday), but to, in effect, "accept" the nomination, after the voting on Wednesday. Also, the idea was not original, but was also done by Kennedy in Los Angeles in 1960. I added a nice picture of the '92 convention floor.

Denver getting boost from New York's money issues?

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Denver is looking to capitalize on New York's money problems:

Advocates for bringing the 2008 Democratic National Convention to Denver were heartened Monday by persistent news reports that rival New York's power brokers are souring on that city's bid. But Denver boosters made it clear they're keeping their eye on the prize: working nonstop to heal an 11th-hour union rift that could kill the city's bid before Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean picks the convention winner next week.

"Sure, we should be encouraged by it," Denver 2008 Host Committee Executive Director Debbie Willhite said of the latest "tea-leaf- reading story" out of New York City. "But what we should really be encouraged by is all the strides that Denver has made to put this city into the competition. "What I don't want people in Denver to think when we get this convention is we got it because New York didn't want it. There has been enormous hard work put together to keep this bid moving forward. "It will not be a default victory."

Still, it didn't dampen Denver's hopes when a New York Daily News political blog reported Christmas Day that the Empire State's biggest political players and money-raisers were losing interest in ponying up the estimated $90 million needed to put on the presidential nominating bash.

Headlined "City may break with convention," the story cited anonymous sources saying city leaders were in "a coy standoff" with Dean and all but ready to give the party chairman a Bronx cheer.
...
Willhite pondered another possibility: that New York, which was lobbying hard just weeks ago to crush its smaller rival, could be exploring a graceful exit. "They probably didn't expect this to be such a fight," she said.

Somehow I think this is about more than a graceful exit for New York.

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.

Novak: New York was selected, leaked, and pulled back

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Now Robert Novak has a history of not always getting things right, but he does have a new and interesting take on last weeks events:

Denver lacks sufficient hotel facilities, a suitable arena and labor union support, not to mention adequate financing. But when New York was leaked as the site, the reaction was so negative that Dean delayed a decision. Party members complained that it would be the fourth out of the last nine Democratic conventions scheduled for New York. Backers of Hillary Clinton don't want her nominated in her place of residence. George H.W. Bush and John Kerry lost elections when nominated in their respective hometowns of Houston and Boston.

First, nowhere else was there any mention that New York was selected, the choice leaked, and a negative reaction received. When you think about it, it makes no sense. Dean knows exactly how everyone feels about the sites, and knows that a large majority of Democrats want the convention in Denver. The scenario Novak paints just doesn't hold together.

But second, and much more interesting, is his thesis that Clinton backers don't want the convention in New York. Publicly, of course, Clinton is backing New York. But I wrote in November, and the Rocky Mountain News followed up earlier this month, that Clinton would be better situated with a Denver convention. And now Novak just makes the statement without caveat that the Clinton team wants Denver? Welcome to the bandwagon, Novak!

And finally, Novak didn't go back far enough on the hometown conventions. Here at 2008 Democratic Convention Watch, I cover these things months before the MSM get to them, and from my post back in March, there have been 4 home-town conventions in the last 60 years, and all 4 candidates lost:

Stevenson: '52, '56 - Chicago
Bush: '92 - Houston
Kerry: '04 - Boston

There were also two conventions at the opponents home site, and both times the candidates won: Eisenhower in 1952 in Chicago, and Kennedy in LA in 1960.

Does the delay help either side?

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Does the delay in the announcement of the host of the 2008 Democratic Convention help either city? Most reports think the delay works to Denver's advantage:

Denver was granted critical time to settle an 11th hour labor beef that could sink its 2008 Democratic National Convention bid when Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean announced today that he'll delay picking whether Denver or New York City host the event until after New Years.
...
While some state party officials saw Dean's deadline reprieve on the decision that was expected to be made this week as an early Christmas present for Denver, DNC officials weren't commenting further.

and

The Democratic National Committee's decision this week to wait until the new year to decide where to hold the party's 2008 national convention is good news for Western Dems who want the convention to be held in Denver. So says Mike Stratton, a Colorado political consultant, lobbyist and political adviser for Gov. Bill Richardson.

but from the New York Daily News:

I may be wrong in seeing the hand of Chuck in delaying the Democrats' convention selection decision until next year, but it is probably good for the New York bid.

While I agree that the delay gives Denver time to resolve its outstanding issues, I think the fact that there had to be a delay at all was not good for Denver. I think it's clear that Dean wants to give the convention to Denver, but that fact that he couldn't do it this week, even though Denver has had all summer and fall to work on these issues, was not a good sign for Denver. Denver's best chance to get the convention may have been this week. Denver may still get the convention, but I think New York's chances increase with every passing day, even if Bloomberg no longer wants it.

Could a Bloomberg presidential run be undermining New York's bid?

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I've been wondering what's behind Bloomberg's continued concerns about New York's ability to raise money for a bid for the 2008 Democratic Convention:

"How do you, in this day and age, go and pay for these conventions when a lot of
people would like to give their money to specific candidate races or candidates
rather than to the convention itself?" Mr. Bloomberg said yesterday during an
appearance in Queens.

The article does go on to say that with New York candidates such as Clinton, Giuliani, and even Pataki, potentially running for president, that would drain a lot of the "New York money". But I wonder if another problem is an independent Bloomberg run for president. If he decides to run, that would be a big conflict of interest for him as his city would be reponsible for hosting the Democratic candidate. Maybe his advisors have asked him, do you really want to put the you and the city in that position?

Decision delayed until January

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The DNC announced they would delay their decision on a site for the 2008 Democratic National Convention until January:

“Because of the holiday week and at the request of both cities, we will announce the convention city in early January,” spokeswoman Stacie Paxton said.

The delay is actually giving a little relief to Denver’s advocates, as a quicker DNC decision might have boded better for New York City. That is because Denver has been buffeted of late with public comments casting some doubts about the city’s viability as a convention contender.

After weeks of bouyantly promoting Denver as the front-runner to host the 2008 Democratic convention, that city’s boosters have hit a snag with organized labor — one that has depressed their hopes that Colorado’s capital will be able to outbid New York City as the convention site. Debbie Willhite, executive director of the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee, told the Denver Post that the city’s efforts to attract the convention had been dealt a blow when Jim Taylor, the head of the local stagehands union, declined to sign a “no strike” agreement with the national Democratic Party.

Taylor took issue with the convention’s main location, the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver. Taylor said his union regards the arena, home to the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, as a non-unionized venue.

But Willhite was quoted as saying the union’s resistance to the no-strike pledge is “probably a deal breaker” for the DNC, the organization that will choose the site for the Aug.25-28, 2008 convention site. Though the party is closely allied with the organized labor movement, Democratic officials have less than fond memories of a labor dispute between Boston officials and the local police union that complicated preparations for the party’s 2004 convention in that city. Union officials did not drop their threat to picket the Democratic convention site until that June, when prospective nominee John Kerry refused to cross a police picket line to attend a Boston meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

And although the Times surprisingly doesn't mention it, New York's bid also has it's problems:

Party officials have been negotiating for months with host committees for New York and Denver, but a series of problems with Denver's bid — and a significant cooling of interest from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — led Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean to seek more time to make a decision.

While New York's host committee has pledged to raise the money necessary to hold the convention, Bloomberg said Tuesday that the fundraising would be significantly more difficult than he once believed.

"The city can't go on the hook for a convention unless they're reasonably sure they can raise the money," he said, noting that New York had financed the 2004 convention entirely through private fundraising."We'd like conventions to come here and spend money and be a net positive for this city, so while it was in the last case because we financed it all privately, I'm not sure we could do that again," he said.

If Bloomberg has been a Democrat, I wonder if he would be so concerned about raising money for the Democratic Convention.

New York making a strong push

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New York is making a strong last-minute push to get the 2008 Democratic Convention:

Democratic officials moved into the final stage of deliberations yesterday about where to place their party’s 2008 nominating convention, with New York officials saying they were increasingly confident that the party would turn to their city for its convention for the first time in 16 years. Party officials said the decision — with New York competing against Denver — would be made no later than Monday, and perhaps by the end of this week.

The New York officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of jeopardizing the negotiations, said their prospects for winning the convention looked good, despite Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s reservations about his ability to raise roughly $85 million to cover the costs. Prominent New York Democrats, including Senator Charles E. Schumer and Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer, have been working to promote the bid within the Democratic National Committee.

Officials working on the bid have contended that New York is better positioned than Denver to deliver the financing, hotel rooms, entertainment space, logistical support and labor union cooperation that are needed for a successful convention. All that the city lacks, the officials agree, is a voter base that has not already made up its mind. “New York has every advantage except that we’re a deep blue state,” Mr. Schumer said in an interview yesterday.
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Yet some Democrats in Washington with knowledge of the two bids said that Denver had offered fewer clear assurances than New York that it could raise the necessary money, a crucial factor for the party chairman, Howard Dean. These Democrats said that Mr. Dean was very high on the idea of Denver and its promise as fertile political ground, but that he might conclude that New York had the better bid on paper.
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In a break from years past, party officials are negotiating agreements with both contending cities before making a selection, in hopes of avoiding the kinds of problems seen in the past. In 2004, for instance, Boston struggled to raise all the money it had promised to the party.

And the Denver contingent is concerned:

A conversation today with Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean left Sen. Ken Salazar "concerned" that Denver might lose to New York City in the competition for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Salazar spokesman Cody Wertz confirmed.

Salazar and Dean spoke for more than 30 minutes Thursday morning, and it ended with the senator putting the odds of Denver winning the convention at "50-50" — a less optimistic assessment than previously, Wertz said.

"He is concerned about whether or not the convention will come here," Wertz said. "It is not our decision. It's Howard Dean's decision. Sen. Salazar, along with several others in Denver and the state are working hard on the issue."

After the call, "He came away concerned," Wertz said. "He said the odds were 50-50 and that's why there are several people, including Sen. Salazar working hard to get the convention."

50-50. Decision tomorrow or Monday.

Where does Hillary really want the convention?

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

I wrote just before Thanksgiving that while Hillary Clinton publicly supported New York to host the 2008 Democratic Convention, a Denver (i.e., non-New York) convention would better help her to highlight her midwestern and southern roots, assuming she gets the nomination, of course. The Rocky Mountain News looks at this further:

If Denver wins the Democratic National Convention over New York City, the potential presidential nominee with the most to gain from a Denver confab is likely one of the people lobbying against it: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, of New York.

A decision on which city will host the 2008 convention could come this week, and politicians such as Clinton and Sen. Ken Salazar, D- Colo., have been pushing for their home states.

Ironically, many analysts say that of the leading contenders, Clinton might get the biggest boost from a Denver convention. To win, a Democratic presidential nominee must reach out beyond the party's base in the Northeast and on the West Coast. That's especially true for a senator from New York.

Political analyst Jennifer Duffy, of The Cook Political Report, said that Clinton can't count on any big boost from a hometown convention in New York City. She noted that Sen. John Kerry, of Massachusetts, was nominated in Boston, a choice that made it easier for his opponents to paint him as an out-of-touch "Massachusetts liberal."

"My gut tells me (that) going to Denver is better for her," Duffy said of Clinton, and she said the same logic applies to virtually every other top-tier Democratic presidential contender. "If any Democrat, including her, is going to win the presidency, they've got to win a state that Bush won last time, and there are a number of potential battlegrounds in the West, including Colorado."

Meanwhile, Clinton is a known entity in New York, and going there "sort of gives the perception this is the same Democratic Party we always see," Duffy said. "They're trying to put a new face on it."

Clinton is the only one of the major Democratic candidates to come from the Northeast, so she would have the most to gain, but it's been clear all year that the Democrats would not gain anything from holding the convention in New York, and that any Democratic candidate would be better off with the convention in Denver.