The LA Times has posted an article titled “A Short But Sweet Gathering”, referring to the Democrats’ National Convention. Here’s what Doyle McManus writes:

Barack Obama’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee are toying with a convention scheduling change that has been broached before in theory but never seriously considered: cutting the party’s conclave in Denver short by one day to give Obama an extra day of post-nomination bounce in the crowded August calendar.

For the last several decades, when conventions became forums that merely rubber-stamp a presumptive nominee, they have traditionally run from Monday through Thursday. Increasingly, both parties have struggled to offer something of interest during the first couple of convention nights, and the television networks have responded by dramatically reducing live coverage. The only truly significant event has been the nominee’s acceptance speech, delivered during prime time on Thursday evening.

But Obama aides have floated the idea of ending the Denver convention on Wednesday, Aug. 27, instead of Thursday, Aug. 28.

The reason is the calendar. This year, unlike in the past, when there was some separation between the two gatherings, the Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul is scheduled to begin four days later, on Monday, Sept. 1. The result, many Democrats believe, could be that Obama would not get the poll number bounce that nominees usually get immediately after being officially anointed.

The reason isn’t the calendar. The Democrats haven’t come close to raising enough money to pay for their convention. Barring something amazing happening, Democrats won’t pay for the convention on time. I don’t doubt that they’ll pay it. It’s just that I think they’ll pay for it late.

I can’t believe that the Democrats will be that stupid but they’ve proved me wrong about that before. If they pull a stunt like that, they can write Colorado off. People won’t be in a forgiving mood. Denver will get shorted money that they’ve budgeted.

When I say that Democrats can write Colorado off, I don’t just mean on the presidential level. Shorting Colorado like that has the potential of giving all Democrats running for election difficulties.

This isn’t shaping up to be a great end of summer for the Democrats. in fact, it could turn into disaster for them, especially if the dedicated Nutroots portion of their party is upset with Sen. Obama on FISA reform. If that happens, the Democratic Party won’t be one big happy family.

Technorati Tags: Denver, Democratic National Convention, DNC, Colorado, Congressional Races, Election 2008

Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog

1. It’s so nice of you to worry about the Democrats fundraising! And with OxyRush Limpdick worried about (or is that causing?) riots in Denver, I’m surprised you’re not claiming that Obama wanted to shorten the convention to avoid all the bad pr that would cause.

   But your fears of a split in the Democratic party are unfounded. You see, when a Democrat does something the party faithful don’t like, for instance supporting the criminal Bush’s attempt to shred the 4th Amendment, we the people let them know how we feel, and work towards changing their position. (Why aren’t you worried that the largest single group on Barack Obama’s website was formed in opposition to his stance on FISA? I bet it will crash his servers! Ooh, it’ll be bad…)

   I’m worried about the bummer-summer shaping up for the globe-trotting McSame. What with having to reorganize his entire campaign staff, stay focused on the campaign (instead of say, running off to Columbia), et. al. Now comes word that McSame has tax payment problems — what was it you said about Al Franken? Oh yeah:
   

   What it points out to me is that Franken either (a) isn’t bright enough to keep his financial house in order or (b) doesn’t put a priority on keeping his financial house in order.

   I guess McSame isn’t, or doesn’t, as well.

   From McSame’s flip-flops on every topic to having major ideological differences with the party makes this one big unhappy republican tent this fall, don’t you think? Some would say even disastrous!

   Comment by Rocky — July 3, 2008 @ 1:21 pm